t izy 











[V- 



/ 




CITY HALL. 
[From Maiden Lane. J 



THE 

ALBANY HAND-BOOK 



Strangers' Guide and Residents' Manual. 

CONTAINING 

Information About the City Government, Schools and Churches ; 

Description and History of Public Buildings and Institutions, 

WITH Special Reference to Washington Park, 

the Rural Cemetery, and 

THE NEW CAPITOL. 

Compiled and Alphabencally Arranged by 

y 

H. P7 PHELPS, 

Author of " Players of a Century; a Record of the Albany* Sxage." , 

'JUN 10 188; 



ALBANY, N. Y 

Brandow & Barton, Printers and Publishers 

1884 



Copyright by 

HENRY P. PHELPS, 

1880—1884. 






INSURE IN THE 

Insurance Company 

OF ALBANY, 

OFFICE, No. 57 STATE STREET. 



CAPITAL INVESTED IN 

UNITED STATES BONDS. 

Abundant Indemnity, 

Low Rates of Premium, 
Equitable Adjustment of Losses, 

Prompt Payment of Approved Claims. 



DIRECTORS: 

ADAM VAN ALLEN, President. 

G. A. VAN ALLEN, Vice-Prbsident. 
C. P. WILLIAMS. B. R. WOOD. 

C. B. LANSING. E. DARWTN TONES. 

JAMES W. EATON. SAMUEL SCHUYLER. 

JESSE C. POTTS. NATHAN B. PERRY. 

I. A. CHAPMAN. • O. H. DAVENPORT. 

C. H. ADAMS. ISAIAH PAGE. 

ROYAL BANCROFT. S. DE LA GRANGE. 

R. V. DE WITT, Secretary. 



STREET INDEX, 



Sth» itrtttt win ht found at cr no.ir lU int^rstelicn, ef imagiitary 

lint* drawn between the Utters and figuru (in border) 

following tite names bfJcu). 

Academy pirk.M. 15 

Albany U. 13 

AlmSlioiiso II. 9 

Alexander. . .. G. J6 

Allen J. ^2 

Anne K. 13 

Arch .J 

Ave. A D 

Ave. B : D 

Ave. C I) 

Ave. D D, 

Bassett H. 

beaver L. 16 

UciijiiMiiii.... V. 17 
HI • 

Uleecker park, K, 
Uleecker jiluce, J. 



\ 



W£ST LAWJrt/VC£ 



BOULEVARD 




A B- en 



STREET _INM,M35t ' 

SKe Slrutt vnll It found at or nc-ar tfi* inUrttetien<if itrtnginary 

line* drawn hetivun tKe httert and fyurei (in iordirf 

following the namtt helow. 




STREET MAP OF ALBANY. 



Y Z 



€Z-1^^ ^^^^^'t^^''^^ 



PWJ9fi//, 






G. A. Van Allen. 



R. V. De Win. 



THE 

ALBANY HAND-BOOK 



A Bit of History. — Albany is the 
oldest surviving European settlement 
in the 13 original States. Jamestown, 
Va., founded seven years earUer (in 
1607), has long since ceased to be in- 
habited, and nothing but the ruins of a 
church-tower and a few tombstones 
are left to mark the spot, even a por- 
tion of the site having been washed 
away. Albany comes next. It was in 
September, 1609, that Henry Hudson 
dispatched from Holland by the Dutch 
East India Company, to search for a 
north-west route to India and China, 
came sailing up the river which now 
bears his name, thinking surely that 
the long looked-for ** passage " was 
found at last. But arriving in the 
vicinity of where the city of Hudson, 
now stands, the yacht " Half Moon " 
(Uke many another craft in after years) 
found difficulty in proceeding, and the 
mate and four sailors came up stream 
in a small boat, which they moored, it 
is believed, at a spot now in Broadway. 
The site of the future city was covered 
with pine, maple, oak and elm, and 
between its hilis tive brawling brooks 
ran laughing to the beautiful river. 
Subsequently they were known as the 
Normans kill, the Beaver kill, the Rut- 
ten kill (which flowed down what is 
now Hudson avenue), the Foxen kill 
(down Canal St.), and the Patroon's 
creek. Poor Hudson returned the way 
he came, went back to Holland, and 
subsequently, in the service of the 



London Company, discovered, far to the 
north, the bay which bears his name, 
and then, through a mutiny among his 
crew, was set adrift in a small boat, to 
die alone amid the ocean he had so 
fearlessly explored. [The evidence 
that the Italian navigator, Verrazzano, 
in 1524 came up the Hudson, is too 
dim for sober history.] In 1 614, Hen- 
drick Corstiaensen, under a grant of 
the United New Netherlands Company, 
erected a trading-house, 26 feet wide 
and 36 feet long, on the island below 
the city, nearly opposite the residence 
known as Mount Hope. This was 
surrounded by a stockade 50 feet 
square, and a moat 18 feet wide. It 
was garrisoned by ten or twelve men, 
who had two cannon and 12 stone 
guns with which to defend themselves. 
Here they carried on an extensive fur 
trade with the Indians, until the spring 
freshet of 161 7 nearly destroyed their 
domicile, when they moved '• up town " 
and erected a new fort on the hill near 
the Normanskill, or 1st kill, as it was 
then called, the other four being num- 
bered in succession northward. In 
1623, another organization, called the 
West India Company, erected a fort on 
a spot near what is now the steamboat 
landing, and called it Fort Orange, in 
honor of the prince who presided over 
the Netherlands. In the same year 
colonists were sent over, but in 1626 
only 8 families were resident here. In 
1629 the Patroon system was trans- 



ACA— ADE 



planted to this country (see Patroon) 
and the following year more colonists 
arrived at Rensselaervvyck, a domain 
48 miles broad, and which extended 24 
miles on both sides of the river, from 
Beeren island to the Mohawk's mouth. 
In 1634, the village began to assume a 
name independent of the fort, and was 
called Beaverswyck, or Beaver's Fuyck, 
or the Fuyck, so named from the bend 
in the river. Subsequently it was 
known as Williamstadt, and became 
the centre of the fur trade in North 
America. In 1664, the province came 
into the hands of the English, who 
speedily changed the name of the set- 
tlement to Albany, in honor of the 
Duke of York and Albany, New Am- 
sterdam on Manhattan island undergo- 
ing a similar transformation. In 1686, 
Albany was incorporated a city by Gov. 
Dongan, the bounds being one mile 
wide, from the river back sixteen miles. 
The town from its very earhest settle- 
ment was protected from the incursions 
of the French and Indians by palis- 
ades, a kind of fortification consisting 
of upright posts driven firmly into the 
ground. In 1695 the boundaries of 
the stockade were, Hudson st. on the 
south, Steuben st. on the north, the 
river on the east, and Lodge st. on the 
west. Afterward, as the town increas- 
ed in population, these lines were ex- 
tended. The stockade then reached 
as far south as Hamilton st., and on 
the north it crossed Broadway, near 
Orange and Van Tromp sts. At this 
point the north gate was placed, and it 
was the line dividing the city of Al- 
bany from the Colonic. When the 
town was first fortified, it contained but 
three streets: Jonkers and Handlers 
(corresponding to State st. and Broad- 
way), and Pearl. In 1795, the town 
of Colonic was annexed. In 1797 the 
city became the capital of the State, 
(See Congress of 1754.) 

Academy of Music. — The name 



under which the South Pearl Street 
Theatre (now Leland Opera House, 
which see,) was opened by John M. 
Trimble, Dec. 22, 1863. It was burned 
Jan. 29, 1868. The Division Street 
Theatre opened Oct. 4, 1869, was also 
called by that name while under Frank 
Lawlor's management. It was burned 
Dec. 8, 1876, and its site is now occu- 
pied by dwellings. 

Academy Park, consists of about 
two acres, bounded by Elk and Eagle 
sts., Washington ave. and Park place. 
A charming bit of green, gracefully 
sloping towards the High school and 
State hall. Was placed in hands of 
the park commissioners in 1 88 1, and 
improved at an expense of $4,306 the 
followmg year. A little distance west 
of this spot used to be a ravine running 
north and south, where, tradition says, 
tories, in the time of the revolution, 
were stripped of their coats, hats and 
shoes, and a bandage put over their 
eyes, in which condition they were 
shot and buried on the spot. It was 
in Academy park that the building of 
the Army Relief Bazaar was erected in 
1864. (See Parks.) 

Acipenser Brevirostris. — Scien- 
tific name for Albany beef. Any per- 
son selling the unskinned article " by 
the piece or pound," is Hable, by a city 
ordinance, to be fined $5. (See Stur- 

GEONVILLE.) 

Adelphi Club. — Organized as the 
Adelphi Literary Association, Jan. 26, 
1873. Occupied rooms on S. Pearl St., 
between Division st. and Hudson ave. 
In 1876 moved to Adelphi Hall, for- 
merly " Turn Halle," on Green st. 
While located here dramatic enter- 
tainments were given by the members 
with success. In 1874-5 a lecture 
course was given at Beverwyck Hall. 
A series of balls was given each year. 
In 1880 the house loi Hudson ave. 



AFR 



was leased and converted into a club 
house. The membership increased and 
in order to obtain larger quarters, in 
1 88 1 the present beautiful club house, 
cor. S. Pearl and Division sts. was 
built for the club, who took a ten 
years' lease of the same. Feb. nth, 
1 88 1, the association was incorporated 
as the Adelphi Club. The present 
quarters are next door to where the 
club was first organized. Excepting the 
Fort Orange, they are the handsomest 
of the kind in the city. Among the 
members are prominent and influential 
Jewish residents. For convenience the 
club house is a model of its kind. The 
first floor is used for kitchen and rooms 
for the steward. The second floor is 
divided into billiard and card rooms 
and library. The third floor is used 
for parlors and dining rooms, and the 
entire fourth floor for a hall. The 
balls given here are as grand as any 
held in this city, and as many as lOO 
couples have been present. The mem- 
bership is limited to 125, present 
membership 120. Sigismund Illch, 
pres.; I. Strasser, vice-pres.; William 
Lowenthal, treas.; A. Fleischman,rec. 
sec; S. Ballin, fin. sec; trustees, D. 
Muhlfelder, L. Stark, \Vm. Barnet, L. 
Auer, M. Gips, M, P. Frank, J. Nus- 
baum, L. Livingston, H. Foreman, J. 
Friedman. 

African Race. — By the census of 
.1880,^ there were 1,056 negroes in Al- 
bany. Many are employed as waiters 
at the hotels and on steamboats, etc.; 
some are well-to-do, and they have 
their representatives in the learned 
professions. Following are the institu- 
tions peculiarly their own : 

Israel A. M. E. Church, 365 Ham- 
ilton St. Organized with 12 members 
in 1 83 1, Rev. Mr. Candish, pastor. 
Since then it has been ministered to by 
about 25 diff"erent clergymen. The 
first edifice was burned down in 1844; 
the present one was erected ten years 



later and was remodeled in 1881. 
Present pastor, Rev. Horace Talbot. 

Jephthah Lodge, No. 13, F. & A. 
M. was constituted under a warrant 
emanating from the M. W. G. Lodge, 
of this state, Dec. 26, i860. The offi- 
cers are W. M., C. E. Lewis; S. W., 
S. H. Mando; J. W., S. Branch; sec, 
J. J. Buright; treas., J. H. Deyo. 35 
active members. 

PHILOMATHE.A.N Lodge, I. O. O. F. 
— Organized in 1844; 45 members. 
Meet at No. 5 North Pearl st. Present 
officers: N. G., William Waters; V. 
G., Henry Pinckney; N. F., L. H. 
Rhoden; P. N.F., Henry Cross; chap- 
lain, H. Hyson; treas., C. C. Oatfield; 
sec, John Caldwell. 

Charles Sumner Benevolent As- 
sociation. — Founded Dec 13, 1875; 
incorporated Nov. 30, 1878. Members 
are provided for when sick, if the ill- 
ness is not the result of immoral con- 
duct. Number of members, 50. John 
H. Deyo, pres.; Wm. H. Brent, vice- 
pres.; Thos. L. Jackson, treas.; Geo. 
W. Clark, rec sec; J. A. Douge, fin. 
sec ; Wm. H. Anthony, chap.; H. 
Rose, marshal; Thos. Elkins, M. D., 
physician; trustees, J. R. Chapman, 
Heuson Jones, L. W. Johnson, Wm, 
H. Gaynor, Samuet Green. 

Female Lundy Society. — Founded 
June 19, 1833. Has 40 members, and 
is supported by monthly dues. Assists 
its own members. Mrs. Susan Douge, 
pres.; Mrs. Sarah Usher, vice-pres; 
Mrs. Mary Williams, sec; Mrs. Ade- 
line Douge, cor. sec; Mrs. Sarah 
Smith, treas. 

Female Lovejoy Society. — Mrs. 
Anna Bell, pres.; Mrs. Leah Stewart, 
vice-pres.; Mrs. Sarah Freeman, sec; 
Mrs. Ruth Lippitt, treas. 

The Carltons (social society.) — 
Pres., J. A. Smith; vice-pres., Mrs. C, 
Newman; sec, A. Blake Platto; cor. 
sec, Miss A, ^L Chapman; treas, Ed- 
ward Robinson. 

Burdett Coutts Benevolent As- 



ALB 

sociATiON. — Has about 20 charter 
members. Pres., T. H. S. Pennington; 
vice-pres., John H. Deyo; treas., Benj. 
Mclntyre; rec. sec, R. F. Mclntyre, 
cor. sec, C. B. Miller. 

Albany Academy, The, or the 

Boys' Academy, as it is often called, 
was incorporated March 4, 1813. Its 
first session was held September ii, 



building that Joseph Henry, who from 
1826 to 1832, was one of the profes- 
sors, first demonstrated the theory of 
the magnetic telegraph in transmitting 
intelligence, by ringing a bell through 
a mile of wire strung around the room. 
It only remained for Prof. Morse to in- 
vent the code of signals, and the ma- 
chine for making them, and the thing 
was done. As has been well said. 




THE ALBANY 

181 5, in a dwelling on the southeast 
cor. of State and Lodge sts. The pre- 
sent brown freestone building, fronting 
on Academy Park, north of the Capitol 
Park, was erected by the city. The 
corner-stone was laid July 29, 1815. 
The main building is 70 by 80 feet, 
with wings 30 by 45 ; is three stories 
high, including basement. Cost S90,- 
000. It was in the upper rooms of this 



ACADEMY. 

"The click heard from every joint of 
those mystic wires which now link to- 
gether every city and village all over 
this continent, is but the echo of that 
little bell which first sounded in the 
upper room of the Albany Academy." 
It was in this building that the well- 
known Bullions grammars were written 
and first used as text-books, by their 
author. Professor of Latin and Greek 



ALB 



in the institution. For mary years, T. 
Romeyn Beck, who created the science 
of medical jurisprudence, was the prin- 
cipal, and at all times the institution 
has maintained an enviable reputation. 
On the 26th of June, 1863, a semi-cen- 
tennial celebration was held, when it 
was found that more than 5,000 stu- 
dents had been educated here. 

Present Condition. — In 1882, Prof. 
James M. Cassety, Ph. D., a graduate 
of Harvard, was elected principal. 
Under his careful and judicious man- 
agement the school has more than 
maintained the high standard of schol- 
arship which it had attained during the 
long principalship of Dr. Merrill E. 
Gates. The number of students has 
steadily increased and the attendance 
at the present time is the largest in the 
history of the Academy. More than 
300 students of all grades now receive 
instruction daily in this historic school; 
its courses of study were never more 
thorough; the results were never more 
satisfactory. There is a primary de- 
partment for the youngest boys; a pre- 
paratory department where oral lessons 
by object methods are given, and an 
academic department, the latter con- 
sisting of a course of six years in Eng- 
lish, the classics, mathematics, includ- 
ing surveying and analytical geometry, 
French and German, history and liter- 
ature, natural sciences, including a two 
years' course in physics, for which a 
large lecture room has been recently 
fitted up and furnished with a complete 
supply of modern apparatus. The 
school also possesses a working chem- 
ical laboratory, furn shed with accom- 
modations for 25 pupils, where each 
student, under the direction of a teach- 
er, performs every experiment of the 
course. This is believed to be the 
only preparatory school in the country 
which gives to entire classes this com- 
plete experimental drill. Twelve hun- 
dred large photographs, collected in 
Europe and the East, and carefully ar- 



ranged and bound for use, illustrate 
the geography, the history and the 
painting of the world. Military drill is 
a well developed feature of the Acad- 
emy, and the appearance of the cadet- 
battalion, now numbering 125, upon 
the streets of the city, always excites a 
interest. 



lively 



Albany Business College, The, 

was established in 1857, by H.B. Bry- 
ant and H. D. Stratton, and was the 
fourth link in their international chain of ■ 
business colleges. E. G. Folsom, found- 
er of the old Cleveland Mercantile Col- 
lege in Ohio, in 185 1, in which both 
Bryant and Stratton were formerly stu- 
dents, came to Albany and became 
partner with them in 1862. In 1867, 
just before the death of Stratton, Mr. 
Folsom purchased their entire interest 
in the Albany Business College, and 
was sole owner of the institution until 
1878, when C. E. Carhart became 
partner. 

The institution has now been in suc- 
cessful operation for 27 years, during 
which time some 6,000 students have 
become members. Its graduates are 
to be found in almost every branch of 
mercantile life, especially in banks, 
commission houses, railroad offices, 
wholesale and retail trade, etc., and in 
many instances are they to be found 
occupying prominent positions in pub- 
lic life. The Hon. J. A. McCall, Jr., 
State Sup't of Insurance, graduated 
from this institution in 1865. The av- 
erage yearly attendance during the past 
few years has been 300. The course 
of study, consisting of branches essen- 
tially commercial, now embraces pen- 
manship, arithmetic, grammar, spelling, 
business correspondence, commercial 
law, political economy, the science and 
practice of accounts, commercial geog- 
raphy, business ethics, detection of 
counterfeit money, stenography, type- 
writing, telegraphy, etc. 



ALB— ALM 



8 



Albany Institute, meets each al- 
ternate Tuesday evening, from October 
to June, at the Albany Academy. Its 
origin dates back through other organ- 
izations, of which it is the legitimate 
successor, to the year 1791. The char- 
ter of the Albany Institute was granted 
February 27, 1829, the Society for the 
Promotion of Useful Arts, and the Al- 
bany Lyceum of Natural History, hav- 
ing consolidated under that name. Its 
membership has included many per- 
sons of distinction as scholars and 
also in professional and civil life. Its 
standard pubHcations are ten volumes 
of Transactions, two of Proceedings 
and one entitled Field Meetings of the 
Albany Institute. The annual fee for 
resident members is $5. There are 
now about 200 members. The library 
contains 6,000 volumes, and many old 
newspapers, including a collection 
made by De Witt CHnton, but owing 
to lack of proper accommodations it is 
not easily accessible. The president is 
David Murray; vice-pres'ts, Henry A. 
Homes, J. A. Lintner, Leonard Kip; 
rec. sec, George R. Howell; cor. sec, 
Ernest J. Miller. 



Albany Insurance Company, 
The, has its office in the Albany Sav- 
ings bank building, cor. State and 
Chapel sts. J. Howard King, pres.; 
Theo. Townsend, vice-pres.; John E. 
McElroy, sec. Was chartered by the 
legislature March 8th, 181 1, to transact 
fire, life, and marine insurance. The 
capital M'as $500,000. The first board 
of directors were Elisha Jenkins, Philip 
S. Van Rensselaer, Isaiah Townsend, 
Dudley Walsh, Henry Gest, Jr., Charles 
Z. Piatt, Simeon De Witt, Stephen 
Lush, Charles D. Cooper, Thomas 
Gould, John Woodworth, Peter Ganse- 
voort, and Christian Miller. In 1828 
the charter was extended, also in 1851 
and again June i, i88i. In 1829 the 
capital was reduced voluntarily. In 



consequence of hard times in 1837-38 
the company lost $134,200. By fires in 
1848-49 and 50 the company lost and 




ALBANY SAVINGS BANK. 

paid over $431,488.03. Isaiah Town- 
send died in 1838, being the last of the 
original directors. He was a director 
twenty - seven years and president 
twenty-three years. To the present 
time the company has paid 142 divi- 
dends. The present capital is $200,000. 
Assets, $373,582; Habilities, $49,891, 
and net surplus over every liability, 
$123,691. For over seventy - three 
years it has made good all its contracts 
for indemnity against loss or damage 
by fire, paying therefor the sum of two 
million and ninety-one thousand eight 
hundred and fifty-two dollars. 

Albany News Company. — (See 
News Co., Albany.) 

Aims-House, The, is situated on 
the plankroad, south of Washington 
park and west of the Penitentiary. 



ANI— ANT 



The Alms-house farm coniains ii6 
acres of good land. The buildings in- 
clude the poor-house, lunatic asylum, 
hospital, pest-house, etc. The city 
pays 60 and the county 40 per cent, of 
the cost of maintenance. The average 
number of inmates is 250. State pau- 
pers (such as have not been residents 
of any county for 60 days) are received 
here and boarded at $2.50 per week. 
There are about 50 insane. Incurable 
cases are sent to the asylum at Ovid. 
A new pest-house, erected on the out- 
skirts of the farm, will accommodate 
50 persons. Cattle and geese. are em- 
pounded here, and the unclaimed dead 
of the streets, the river and the Peni- 
tentiary find here a burial. Visitors 
are admitted every day except Sunday. 

Animals, Domestic. — According 
to the last census, there were in Alba- 
ny county 9,469 horses, 66 mules, 515 
working oxen, 13,042 milch cows, 
7,314 other cattle, 24,393 sheep, 12,027 
swine. 



been the subject of so much solicita- 
tion, resided cor. State and James sts., 
present site of the Mechanics' and 
Farmers' bank, and died in this city 
March 19, 1663. She is supposed to 
have been buried in the Beaver street 
burying ground. Her first husband 
owned land on the west side of Broad- 
way, New York, along the river, from 
Chambers to Canal sts., with a strip 
running up to give an entrance to 
Broadway. This was sold to the gov- 
ernment by her heirs, and was known 
as the King's farm, and given to Trin- 
ity church. It is now worth millions, 
and many of her descendants have 
imagined that it ought to revert to 
them. 

Antiquities. — In the Sunday school 
room of the First Reformed church are 
to be seen a pulpit, hour-glass and 



Bible which came from Holland. The 
pulpit is of oak, of octagonal shape, 
four feet high and three feet in diam- 
eter. It was in use 150 years by eight 
successive pastors. So, too, was the 
hour-glass, by which the preacher was 
timed by the entire congregation, and 
greatly did he offend if he failed to 
occupy his full 60 minutes. The Bible, 
with its wood and leather covers, brass 
corners and clasps, was printed in 1730. 
The weather-cock, which adorned the 
old Dutch church in which these arti- 




OLD DUTCH CHURCH. 

cles were used, and of which a cut is 
here given, is stored with the archives 
of the Van Rensselaer estate. (See 
Reformed Churches, Episcopal 
Churches.) 

Anti - Rentism, although a thing 
of the past, at one time was a very ex- 
citing issue, and entered largely into 
State politics. It was an attempt to 
evade the conditions under which large 
tracts of land were originally leased by 
the Patroon (which see.) The Van 
Rensselaer manor was not much set- 
tled till after the revolution, when, the 
property being entailed, Stephen Van 



ANT 



Rensselaer, acting on the advice of his 
brother-in-law, Alexander Hamilton, 
adopted the policy of leasing farms in 
perpetuity, giving generally about eight 
years' occupation at the nominal con- 
sideration of "a peppercorn a year;" 
at the expiration of which time the 
leases drew a rent estimated to be the 
interest at 6 per cent, on the value of 
the land, or about 20 shillings an acre, 
payable in the produce of the soil, that 
is in wheat, fowls, and days' service 
with carriage and horses, the reserva- 
tion for days' service being intended 
for a capital with which to aid the 
tenants in building bridges, repairing 
roads, erecting churches and making 
other improvements. The old Patroon 
died Jan. 26, 1839, and, the right of 
entail having been abolished, divided 
the manor, giving Albany county to 
Stephen, his only son by his first wife, 
and Rensselaer county to William P., 
his oldest son by his second wife. The 
old Patroon had been a very lenient 
landlord; but the tenants, at his death, 
became exceedingly anxious as to the 
policy that would be pursued by his 
heirs. Particularly were they excited in 
regard to the clause in the leases in ref- 
erence to what was known as the quar- 
ter sales. This condition was that in 
case the tenant wished to sell his farm, 
the landlord should have the first right 
of purchase, and if the purcnase was 
declined, and the farm sold to another, 
the landlord was to have one fourth 
the proceeds of the sale, and this as 
often as the farm changed hands. 
This condition, which to modern ideas 
appears unreasonable and exacting, 
was really intended as a tax on alien- 
age, as it did not apply where the farm 
was sold or descended to one of the 
tenant's family. It was a relic of the 
old feudal days, and intended to keep 
the tenants together. The old Patroon, 
however, never enforced it; but it was 
feared that his sons would do so. This 
led to the appointment of a committee 



of the tenants, composed of some of 
the most respectable and responsible 
men of the manor, friends of the Pa- 
troon, to propose the purchase of all 
the reservations, get a release from the 
rentals and obtain a fee simple. To 
this the counsel for the Van Rensse- 
laers refused utterly to listen. There- 
upon the tenants further organized, 
raised a fund and employed counsel to 
ascertain whether they could take any 
steps to relieve themselves. Henry G. 
Wheaton was retained, and his ad- 
vice was, that the legal claims of the 
landlords under the leases were abso- 
lute. He could see no relief for the 
tenants except to make the collection 
of the rents so difficult that the land- 
lords would be willing to make terms 
at last. He specially counselled against 
violence, but suggested their banding 
together and giving notice to each 
other of the approach of sheriff's offi- 
cers, thus making difficult the serving of 
process. They had other advisers who 
were not so discreet. In 1840, Gov. 
William H. Seward, being then a can- 
didate for reelection, went out to East 
Berne, and addressed a very large 
meetmg of anti-renters, whom he ad- 
vised to organize in this and all the 
counties where the troubles existed, 
and send men to the legislature who 
should hold the balance of power, and 
thus force the passage of such laws as 
would relieve them. This was followed 
not only by a political movement, but 
by the organization of bands who 
masked under the name and in the 
disguise of Indians and attacked the 
officers of the law. The first conflict 
which attracted general attention was 
at Grafton, Rensselaer county, where a 
man was killed by disguised anti-rent- 
ers. The examination of more than 
200 persons failed to disclose the au- 
thor of the deed. Other manors were 
equally excited, and in 1845 Governor 
Wright issued a proclamation declaring 
Delaware county in a state of insurrec- 



ARE— ARC 



tion. In the following year he was 
defeated by the anti-rent candidate for 
Governor, John Young, who went into 
office pledged to pardon such of the 
anti-renters as were in prison for their 
crimes, a pledge which he kept faith- 
fully. The excitement not only found 
its way into the legislature, but made 
itself felt in the constitutional conven- 
tion. Then the contest was transferred 
to the courts, although it is not ten 
years since all violence ceased. In 
1853, the Van Rensselaers sold out all 
the leases of the hill towns in Albany 
county and nearly all those of Rensse- 
laer county to Col. Walter S. Church, 
and since then he has bought the re- 
mainder, and the business, what there 
is left of it, is in his hands. He has 
pursued the policy of releasing the 
rentals and giving a fee simple, so that 
now three-fourths of what was the 
manor is entirely free from any rental. 
During his administration he has 
brought over 2,000 suits in ejectment 
for non-payment of rent, and in every 
case except perhaps ten (in which the 
plaintiff was in error as to the facts) 
has been successful. Compromises 
have been effected on this basis : for a 
farm of 160 acres on which the annual 
rent was 22^ bushels of wheat, four fat 
fowls and one day's service with horses 
and carriage the value was fixed at 
^26, which is the interest at 6 per cent, 
on $433. By the payment of the $433 
the tenant receives a fee simple. 
Much has been written upon this sub- 
ject, and many erroneous ideas are 
afloat upon it. What little is found 
here is believed to be historically cor- 
rect. The excitement in this city at 
times has been intense, and on three 
several occasions have the military 
been called out since Col. Church's 
purchase. 

Arbor Hill, north of Clinton ave. 
Two lots on Ten Broeck St., between 
Second and Third sts., were given by 



the Patroon for a burial ground in 
1764, and were used as such by the in- 
habitants of the north part of the city 
till 1842, when the ground having 
fallen into a disgraceful condition, was 
sold for assessments, and the scattered 
bones were buried in the Rural Ceme- 
tery. 

Architectural Features. — ^The ex- 
amples of primitive Dutch structures, 
on the southeast cor. of 'State and 
Pearl sts., and northeast cors. of Pearl 
and Columbia, and Chapel and Steuben 
sts., are interesting as old landmarks, 
and for their quaintness. Modern 
buildings, in All>any, are erected with 
brick of local manufacture; Philadel- 
phia, Croton and other pressed brick ; 
sandstone from Nova Scotia, New Jer- 
sey, Connecticut and Ohio; Schenec- 
tady blue stone; granite; and cast-iron 
for fronts, and for trimmings to doors 
and windows. In Albany, as in all old 
cities, three periods in architectural 
design are distinctly noticeable, viz : 
the " Carpenters'," as are the majority 
of domestic houses in the oldest por- 
tions of the city, together with public 
buildings such as the Geological Hall, 
Globe Hotel, and old Normal School. 
Secondly, " Transition " from the first 
named to architects' handiwork, in- 
cluded in which are the numerous 
buildings remodeled for stores, offices, 
etc. Lastly, '* Art culture," in which 
may be cited numerous private resi- 
dences upon Elk and State sts., and on 
Washington and Madison aves., and 
near the park, the Kenmore Hotel, 
Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank, and 
many modern suburban residences. 
In ecclesiastical architecture, promi- 
nent as examples of decorated Gothic, 
are St. Peter's, St. Joseph's; the Cathe- 
dral furnishes a good example of the 
Perpendicular; the carved work in the 
tower of the first mentioned is prob- 
ably unsurpassed in design and faith- 
fulness of the workman by any work in 



ARM 



America or Europe. The Lutheran 
church, upon Pine St., is a creditable 
specimen of " Early English," wrought 
out of brick. The Methodist church and 
Baptist church on Hudson ave., are in- 
teresting studies in Gothic and Greek 
characters. In Romanesque style we 
might mention the Reformed church 
upon Pearl st., St. Mary's upon Lodge 
St., and Our Lady of Angels on Cen- 
tral ave., while the new City Hall is a 
fine example of this style, with a square 
Norman tower for the fire alarm. The 
new Post Office and the Presbyterian 
church recently erected, near the Park, 
are also examples of the Romanesque. 
The new Capitol may be generally de- 
scribed as belonging to the French 
Renaissance style, distinguished from 
the Italian by the introduction of 
Gothic features. The Presbyterian 
church upon Chapel st. approaches 
Sir Christopher Wren's style in many 
of its prominent features, although its 
spire finial, the pumpkin and codfish 
are wide departures therefrom. The 
interior design and arrangements of All 
Saints Cathedral chapel furnish proof 
of success of culture in an architect. 
The Holy Innocents church, on Pearl 
St., a gem, pure in conception, should 
be seen by tourists and lovers of art. 
The later public schools are genuine, 
practical, sensible designs, embodying 
exteriors and floor plans in keeping 
with intended purposes, affording com- 
fort to teachers and pupils, while 
familiarizing the eye of youth with 
taste, cleanliness and sanitary demand. 
St. Agnes School is a model of its kind, 
and although simple, almost severe, in 
style, yet its numerous architectural 
surprises tend to leave an agreeable 
impression upon the memory. The 
Grecian pretensions of the Female 
Academy are in rather unpleasing con- 
trast with their modern surroundings, 
and calculated to suggest unfavorable 
criticisms. The Sacred Heart Convent, 
at Kenwood, deserves particular men- 



tion for its charming location, and as 
an illustration of Gothic character 
adapted to an institute of education. 
Another illustration of simple, good 
taste in architecture, striking the eye 
favorably and leaving pleasant impres- 
sions, is the Child's Hospital, modern 
and yet antique in its conception. In 
the State Armory, cor. of Eagle st. and 
Hudson ave., is a fine type of military 
architecture, in character resembling 
the baronial style introduced into Eng- 
land by King Edward I, upon his re- 
turn from the Crusades. Among many 
other edifices worthy of note are the 
Boys' Academy, the Madison Avenue 
Reformed church and the State Hall. 

Armory, The State.— The State 
arsenal, formerly located on Broadway, 
cor. Lawrence St., was, by act of April 
17, 1858, exchanged with the city for 
the present site on Eagle, cor. Hudson 
ave. The present edifice was erected 
in the same year, and is of substantial 
workmanship and elegant architectural 
style. Two companies of the lOth bat- 
talion, D and K, are quartered in the 
building, occupying the rooms on the 
second floor. The upper story is not 
used. The drill room is on the ground 
floor. Its designation was changed 
from a State arsenal to an armory Jan. 
I, 1882. It is under the charge of the 
senior officer quartered there. 

Armsby Memorial, The, in 

honor of Dr. James H. Armsby, was 
unveiled in Washington Park, Novem- 
ber 25, 1879, in the presence of the 
Albany County Medical Society, the 
students of the Medical College, mem- 
bers of the Albany Institute, and others. 
It stands about forty rods west of Wil- 
lett St. The column of granite is 14 
feet; the capital is elaborated; the bust 
is of bronze, twice the size of nature, 
and is the work and gift of E. D. Pal- 
mer. It was cast in Paris by F. Barbe- 
dienne. 



13 



Art owes something to Albany. 
Here resides the distinguished sculptor 
Erastus D. Palmer, whose statues, me- 
dallions and portrait busts are celebra- 
ted the world over. His son, Walter 
L. Palmer, a painter of distinction, is 
also resident here. This was the 
adopted home of Launt Thompson, 
whose taste for art was encouraged by 
Palmer, under whom his mind received 
the bent that has placed him among 
the eminent sculptors of the age. The 
Hart brothers, William particularly 
distinguished for his American autumn 
scenes in oil and water colors, and 
James McDougal, renowned as a paint- 
er of cattle and sheep, were for years 
Albany boys. George H. Bough ton, 
now famous among the London artists, 
passed his youth in Albany. Asa W. 
Twitchell, the portrait painter, resides 
but a little way from the city, and Ed- 
monia Lewis, the colored woman sculp- 
tor, was born in Greenbush. 

Art Gallery. — The nearest ap- 
proach to an art gallery in Albany is 
Annesley & Vint's, 57 N. Pearl st., a 
favorite place of resort for lovers of 
the beautiful, and one to which Alba- 
nians in their desire to create a favor- 
able impression of the culture and re- 
finement of the city, are sure to pilot 
strangers. It may indeed be called the 
art centre of Albany. The rooms are 
arranged with a special view to advan- 
tageous lights and shades, and the 
most noteworthy works of arl brought 
to this city, whether the production of 
native or of foreign talent, are gener- 
ally placed here on public view. Rare 
and costly engravings and gems in oil 
and in water-colors are on sale, and 
there is usually something unique in 
artistic furniture, in which the firm are 
also extensive dealers. They have 
been established since 1802, and are as 
well and favorably known as any insti- 
tution of which our city can boast. 
Visitors are always welcome. 



ART— AUG 

Ashes. — Throwing ashes in the 
streets is not only prohibited by city 
ordinance, but by act of legislature 
(chap. 377, Laws of 1866), which for- 
bids it in the cities of New York, Al- 
bany, Buffalo and Rochester, under 
penalty of from one dollar to ten dol- 
lars fine. 



Athletics.- (See Outdoor Sports.) 

Auctions. — ^The principal auction 
houses are on State St., and many sales 
are conducted in the middle of that 
accommodating thoroughfare, the city 
ordinances providing that bulky articles 
may be so disposed of, provided they do 
not interrupt travel, are not placed 
within ten feet of a crosswalk, and are 
removed one hour after the sale. The 
auction "audiences" are always inter- 
esting to the student of human nature. 
The leading auctioneer in Albany is 
Mr. John S. Dickerman, who for over 
twenty-five years has followed the 
business, winning by tact peculiarly his 
own, a reputation by no means con- 
fined to the city of which he is a prom- 
inent citizen. His large and commo- 
dious salesrooms are in the five story 
and basement building No. 98 State st. 
Here is conducted the business, which 
by long experience, honorable dealing, 
good nature and uniform courtesy the 
General has ntede a success. Works 
of art, imported goods from the East, 
and large invoices of new first-class 
furniture are disposed of, while real 
estate, stocks and city bonds help 
make up the variety of his sales. Quite 
often he is called to other cities to 
officiate at important sales. The upper 
portions of the building, including over 
fifty rooms, are set apart for the storage 
of fine furniture, works of art, etc., 
which are conveyed by elevators, in 
perfect safety, to the rooms selected. 
This is the only large storage warehouse 
of the kind in the city. 



AWN— BAP 



Awnings must be at least eight 
feet above the pavement, and if ex- 
tended beyond the stoop or platform 
of a building must extend across the 
sidewalk; penalty $5 a day. 

Baggage. — (See Expresses.) 

Ball Playing and " shinney " play- 
ing in the public streets are punishable 
by a fine of $1 for every person thus 
offending. 



United States. Open from 10 A. M. to 
2 p. M., except Sundays and legal holi- 
days. The interest for discount is fixed 
at 6 per cent. There are also seven 
savings banks, which pay 3^ per cent, 
interest on deposits. 

Baptist Churches.— The history 
of the Baptist denomination in this 
city dates back to Feb. i, 1810, when 
a few brethren of that way of thinking 
met together to worship, and August 5, 




FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, 



Banks. — Seven National and two 
State banks do business in Albany. 
The State banks are organized under 
the State banking laws, and the Na- 
tional banks under the act passed by 
Congress during the war. Most of 
these were State banks, and re-organ- 
ized under that act. They are permit- 
ted to issue circulating notes by depos- 
iting U. S. interest-bearing bonds with 
the U. S. Treasurer at Washington, to 
secure their redemption. These notes 
pass for their full value all over the 



of the same year, organized as a so- 
ciety. Jan. 23, 181 1, they became a 
church numbering 21 members. Rev. 
Francis Wayland was their first pastor. 
They met in various places for several 
years, and then bought the Green 
Street Theatre, turned it into a church, 
and dedicated it as such Jan. I, 1819. 
Gov. (afterwards President) Martin 
Van Buren was a pew-holder here. 
From this organization sprang all the 
other Baptist churches in the city. 
The First church now worships in 



»5 



BAP 



the building cor. Hudson uve. and 
Philip St., with rear on Plain st. It 
was erected at a cost of $26,000, in 
1852, Rev. Dr. Reuben Jeffrey, pastor; 
remodelled and enlarged to a seating 
capacity of 900 under Rev. Dr. E. L. 
Magoon; and again renovated and 
beautified at a cost of $9,000 under 
Rev. Dr, D. M. Reeves. The church 
has been reduced in membership and 
means from time to time, by the emmi- 
grations, to form and increase the sev- 
eral new interests, but has as often re- 
vived with renewed power and pros- 
perity. It has two missions, one at 
Kenwood, the other in Madison ave., 
prospering under the superintendency 
of Mr. Augustus Bowers. Thomas 
Rambaut, D.D., LL.D., pastor; John 
Cox, clerk; Eliakim Chase, sexton; 
Henry V. Shelley, supt. Sunday school. 
Membership, 508; baptisms in 73 
years, 2,269; received by letter, 1,070. 
Sunday services : Preaching, 10.30 A. 
M. and 7.30 p. M.; Band of Hope, 9 a. 
M.; Covenant Band, 6 P. M.; Sunday 
school, 2 P. M. List of pastors since 
formation : Francis Wayland, Isaac 
Webb, Joshua Bradley, John Finley, 
Lewis Leonard, Bartholomew T. Welch, 
Geo. B. Ide, Alanson L. Covel, J. L. 
Hodge, John Knox, Jas. M. Coley, Asa 
Bronson, W. S. Clapp, Reuben Jeffrey, 
E. L. Magoon, Geo. C. Lorimer, J. B. 
Hawthorne, M. C. Lockwood, Thomas 
Rambaut. 

Emmanuel, on north side of State 
St.. above Swan. One of the finest 
churches in the city. The corner-stone 
was laid Aug. 14, 1869; dedication, 
Feb. 23, 1 87 1. Is of unhewn Onon- 
daga limestone, and will seat 1,500. 
Cost $200,000. The church was or- 
ganized in 1834, under the pastoral 
care of Rev. B. T. Welch, D.D., and 
was known as the N. Pearl st. Church, 
worshiping in an edifice on the spot 
now occupied by Perry Building. 
Under the pastorate of Rev. C. DeW. 
Bridgman, D.D., the new building was 



erected. He resigned in Feb. 1878, 
and was succeeded by Rev. T. Har- 
wood Pattison, D.D., and he by Rev. 
Henry M, King, D.D., the present pas- 
tor. Church membership, 650. No 
debt. Sunday services at the usual 
hours, morning and evening. In 1883, 
through the liberality of Mrs. Eli Perry, 
and in memory of her late husband, 
the tower of the church was completed 
at a cost of $17,000. 

Calvary Church, organized Feb. 16, 
i860, was formerly known as the Wash- 
ington ave. Baptist Church, but changed 
its name Feb. 4, 1865, and bought the 
State St. Baptist Church, opposite Cap- 
itol park, the society which had wor- 
shiped there disbanding. Rev. William 
P. Everett was the first pastor; he was 
succeeded by Rev. Messrs. J. Spencer 
Kennard, John Peddle, Joshua Day, 
and John Humpstone. Under the 
ministrations of the latter, on April ii, 
1880, at the morning service, $42,072 
was subscribed — sufficient to build the 
beautiful structure in which the church 
now worships. It stands on a lot 75 
by 100 feet, cor. State and High sts., 
the site of the former building, and was 
dedicated March, 26, 1882. The total 
cost was $57,418, all of which is paid. 
It is of pressed brick and rock-faced 
brown stone, built in French Gothic. 
Will seat 1,100. Rev. J. Wolfe nder 
has been the pastor since May, 1883; 
missionary, Miss Kimball; treas., Joseph 
Taylor; supt. Sunday school, Wm. San- 
ger; sexton, John Bomus. Member- 
ship, 636. 

Tabernacle, cor. Clinton ave. and 
Ten Broeck St., Rev. Albert Foster, 
pastor. Organized Oct., 1859, with 56 
members. Present membership, 463. 
The church edifice now occupied was 
completed February, 1877. Cost, with 
lot and appointments, $78,000. Pres- 
ent debt about $1,600. Services: 
preaching Sunday morning and even- 
ing; Sunday school, 2^ P. yi.; evening 
meetings, Wednesday and Friday, 



BAS— BEE 



i6 



Mission field, North Albany, W. H. 
Falke, supt. Trustees, Frederick Clap- 
ham, Lemon Thompson, Hamilton 
Harris, Rodney Vose, John W. Clark, 
H. Southwick, Jr., James Marston and 
B. Lodge. The former pastors were 
Justin D. Fulton, D.D., Rev. Dr. Alden, 
Rev. Thos. Cull, R. B. Kelsay, D.D., 
and F. R. Morse, D.D. 

German. — Washington ave., near 
Knox. Rev. John Jaeger, pastor. 
Organized in 1854. Present member- 
ship, 75. 

Memorial Chapel, cor. Madison 
ave. and Partridge. 




Basin, The Albany. — Formed by 
the construction of a pier in the Hud- 
son river. (See Pier.) 

Bath-on-the-Hudson. — A village 
on the east side of the river, oppo- 
site the northern part of Albany, and 
in the town of North Greenbush, Rens- 
selaer county; incorporated May 5, 
1874, population 2,000, Is reached by 
Lumber District horse-cars and ferry, 
or by upper railroad bridge. It re- 
ceived its name from a mineral spring 
whose waters were once used exten- 



sively for bathing purposes. There is 
another village named Bath, in Steuben 
county. 

Baths. — The public bath is a high- 
ly popular institution, especially with 
the boys. It was established after 
many efforts of many kinds, by public 
subscription, and is moored in the river 
at the foot of Columbia st. Last year, 
during the season, which began June 
14 and ended Sept. 22, it was open 12 
hours every day except Sunday, and 
63,863 persons bathed. It is in charge 
of Garry . Benson, a famous " water 
dog," who has saved many persons 
from drowning. Mondays, Wed- 
nesdays and Fridays are pay days, 
when 10 cents a bath is charged. 
Other days it is free. Swimming 
classes for both sexes are taught by 
Mr. Benson. (See Blasie's Baths) 

Beaver Block. — South Pearl St., 
N. E. cor. of Beaver, was formerly 
the Brick church, preached in for 
the last time Feb. 8, 1868. Here 
Rev. Dr. Nott delivered his famous 
discourse against duelling, called out 
by the death of Alexander Hamil- 
ton at the hands of Aaron Burr, in 
1804. 

Beeren Island. — Twelve miles 
south of the city, near Coeymans Land- 
ing. It is usually called Barren island, 
the spasmodic attempts of antiquarians 
to have its original name restored hav- 
ing proved abortive. In 1643, Patroon 
Van Rensselaer erected a fort and 
trading house here, to exclude private 
traders and exact toll from all vessels 
not belonging to the West India Co. 
This created much indignation at New 
Amsterdam. The island is now a 
favorite resort for picnics and excursion 
parties. Its southern point is in four 
counties, Albany, Rensselaer, Columbia 
and Greene. 



17 



BEG— BEN 



Begging is forbidden by a city 
ordinance, which imposes a fine of 
from $2 to $io, unless permission has 
been given by the mayor or common 
council. It is not generally known 
that this restriction applies to " raising 
moneys by subscription, for any pur- 
pose whatsoever." 

Benevolent Societies and In- 
stitutions. — In Mr. Dickens's Dic- 
tionary of London, the list of organiza- 
tions under this head numbers about 
850, and includes almost every con- 
ceivable object of charity, from supply- 
ing "gratuitous homes for gentlewo- 
men " to supporting a " temporary asy- 
lum for lost and starving dogs." Al- 
bany's charities though of course not 
as numerous, nor, perhaps, as far 
reaching, are still highly to the credit 
of the citizens, as will be seen by the 
following : 

The Albany Orphan Asylum, first 
went into operation in November, 
1829, opening with eight children 
under the care of Mrs. Heely. Before 
the winter was over seventy helpless 
ones enjoyed the shelter of the new 
institution. During the following sum- 
mer public meetings were held and 
much interest created in the charity. 
It was incorporated March 30, 1 83 1, 
under the name of the Society for the 
Relief of Orphan and Destitute Child- 
ren in the City of Albany. In 1832-3 
a building was erected between Wash- 
ington and (what is now) Central aves, 
at Robin st, — a beautiful situation. 
The edifice was originally only three 
stories, forty by eighty, but has been 
greatly enlarged. It now has accom- 
modations for 250 to 275 inmates; the 
average number is 250. It receives 
both orphans and half-orphans, and 
has sheltered over 4,000 in all. Pres., 
John F. Rathbone; sec, A. V. De 
Witt; treas., David A. Thompson; 
auditor, James Covert; executive com., 
2 



John F. Rathbone, Maurice E, Viele, 
David A. Thompson; supt., Albert D. 
Fuller; matron, Mrs. Albert D. Fuller. 
The institution is supported by dona- 
tions and voluntary contribution, inter- 
est on invested funds (from legacies), 
and by receipts from counties for sup- 
port of children, under chap. 173, Laws 
of 1875, and the various other acts 
since passed amending the same. 
Children's friends and visitors to the 
institution received the first Thursday 
of each month from 2 to 4 P. M. 

Babies' Nursery, 562 Clinton ave., 
was founded in 1875, and cares for 
young children whose parents cannot 
support them, or who are left orphans. 
It is supported by voluntary subscrip- 
tion. Mrs. Fred Townsend, pres.; 
Mrs. Samuel Hand, treas. 

Home for Aged Men. — On the Al- 
bany and Watervliet turnpike, near 
Menand's road. Incorporated Oct. 5, 
1876. "It is to provide for respectable 
men who, at an advanced age, are left 
helpless and alone in the world, and 
whose poverty is due to misfortune 
rather than to idleness or vice." The 
"home" was dedicated March 28, 
1878; is pleasantly situated; has ac- 
commodations for 30 persons; has at 
present 24 inmates. The institution is 
free from debt, and has an invested 
fund of $12,641. Inmates are, some 
of them, supported in whole or part by 
friends, others are supported at the 
expense of the society. Beneficiaries 
to be natives of the United States, 60 
years old or more, Protestant, and resi- 
dents of Albany county 10 years next 
preceding application for relief. Ex- 
ceptions to these restrictions may be 
made by a three-fourths vote of all the 
trustees. As a general rule beneficia- 
ries pay $125 entrance money and fur- 
nish their own room. Annual cost of 
supporting each inmate about $170. 
James B. Jermain, pres.; David A. 
Thompson, sec; Mrs. Mary H. Stod- 
dard, matron. (See cut, page 18.) 



BEN 



[8 



Home of the Friendless. — No. 
553 Clinton ave., opp. Perry st. A re- 
treat for aged women. The building 
is of brick, three stories, 56 by 75, 
stands on a plot of ground 100 by 244, 
and has pleasant accommodations for 
50 persons. The home was established 
in 1850, by Mrs. Lee, with ^56, and 
duly organized Nov. 18, I85i> as the 
Albany Guardian Society. The pres- 
ent building was dedicated May 5, 
1870. The lot upon which it stands 
was given by James Kidd. 



House of Shelter.— Cor. of Wen- 
dell and Howard sts. Organized 
March 9, 1868, soon after which it was 
opened for the reception of inmates. 
Incorporated in January, 1869. The 
present building was erected in 1872, 
and with lot and furniture cost ^21,500. 
Its mission is to provide a home for pen- 
itent women who have no other place 
to go to. Average annual expenses 
$3,000, met in part by work done by 
the inmates and, in part, by subscrip- 
tions. A. S. Kibbee, pres., John E. 




hOxME for aged men. 



Home for the Aged Poor, 415 
Central ave. Opened on Clinton ave. 
in 1 87 1. Removed to present location 
the year following. Conducted by 1 1 
Little Sisters of the Poor, of which 
order there are 32 houses in this coun- 
try. Although of the Catholic faith, 
they receive the aged and helpless of 
both sexes of everv denomination. 
Must be over 60 years of age, and des- 
titute. Admission free. The institu- 
tion is supported entirely by charity, 
the Little Sisters begging from door to 
door for food, clothing and money to 
dispense to the helpless under their 
care. The home has 150 inmates; all 
that it can well accommodate. 



McElroy, treas.; Miss M. L. Dare, 
matron. The usual number of inmates 
is 25, but 30 can be accommodated. 
The institution is free from debt and 
has a small invested fund. 

Ladies' Protestant Union Aid 
Society. — Founded in 1866. Its man- 
agers (numbering twenty) are com- 
posed of a representative from each 
Protestant church in the city. The 
society is supported by collections from 
the churches, solicited by the repre- 
sentative managers, and by individual 
donations and legacies. It benefits the 
worthy, destitute Protestant poor. 
Regular meetings, first Wednesday in 
every month, in the rooms of the 



19 



BEN 



Young Men's Christian Association, 20 
N. Pearl st. Annual meeting in May. 
Pres., Mrs. Isaac Edwards, vice-pres., 
Mrs. Wm. H. Goewey; sec, Mrs. 
James Briggs; rec. sec, Mrs. Charles 
Sprague; treas., Mrs. William Wen- 
dell. 

Open Door Mission. — Incorporated 
April 14, 1882. Located at No. 3 
Columbia place. Mrs. Eleanor Spens- 
ley, a graduate of Oberlin, and trained 
to mission work in the prisons and 
hospitals of New York, supt. She 
opened a retreat for incurables, in 
Hawk St., in 1879; then removed to 
75 N. Pearl st. Through the influence 
of Mrs. James C. Cook the present 
organization was effected. Twenty in- 
mates; three of whom are children. 
Pres., Miss Jane Lansing; treas., Miss 
Ellen Dempsey; sec, Mrs. Jane Brad- 
ley, who, also, with Annie L. Van 
Vechten, Sarah Edmonds, Mrs. David 
Gregory, Catherine Ten Eyck, Mrs. A. 
Stickney and the supt., are the trus- 
tees. 

Orphans' Home of St. Peter's 
Church, No. 7 La Fayette st. Or- 
ganized in 1864; accomodates 25 girls, 
from five to sixteen years. Was first 
known as Miss Knapp's Ragged 
School; then incorporated as the 
Albany Juvenile Retreat; adopted by 
St. Peter's Church, and name changed 
to present title in 1876. St. Peter's 
Church contributes annually about 
$1,700 to its support. Is designed for 
the Christian care and training of 
orphan girls rather than temporary 
relief. Number of inmates, 20. 

St. Andrew's Society. — Estab- 
lished in 1803, and the oldest benevo- 
lent institution in the city. Its object 
is to aid needy Scotchmen. Has a 
sinking fund of about $14,000, and 
embraces among its members most of 
the prominent Scotchmen in Albany. 
Peter Kinnear, pres.; Andrew McMur- 
ray, vice-pres.; Walter McEwen, treas. 

St. George's Benevolent Society 



was reorganized January 27, i860, the 
old one having gone out of existence 
many years previous. Its objects are 
to afford relief and advice to indigent 
natives of England, or to their wives, 
widows or children, and to promote 
social intercourse among members. 
Natives of England, sons and grand- 
sons of natives are eligible if over 21 
years of age; initiation fee, $2; annual 
subscription, $3. The society has now 
95 members in good standing. Wil- 
Uam Lacy, pres.; WiUiam W. Grey, 
sec. 

St. George's Italian Society. — 
Organized Jan. i, 1880. Dionisio 
Rovere, pres.; Attilio Pasquini, vice- 
pres; Antonio Paltenghi, treas.; 
Henry Guidotti, sec. Its object is to 
assist needy Italians. 

St. Vincent de Paul Society. — 
An agency for most beneficent good in 
connection with the Catholic church, 
located in seven of its parishes. The 
first society was organized in St. Mary's 
parish in 1848; St. John's, the Cathe- 
dral, St. Joseph's, St. Patrick's, St. 
Ann's and the Assumption Society 
came into existence in the order 
named. The aggregate work of these 
societies since their inception is thus 
summarized : Amount of money ex- 
pended on the poor, $95,000; number 
of families visited, 9,000; visits made, 
125,000. There are at present 119 
members throughout the city dispens- 
ing voluntary charities to the needy 
and worthy poor. During the past 
year $2,927 was thus expended. The 
officers of the conference, which in- 
cludes all the city societies, are : Spir- 
itual director. Rev. John Walsh ; pres., 
Nicholas Hussey; vice-pres., Peter A. 
Cassidy; sec, P. Flanigan; treas., 
Francis Roche. 

St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum So- 
ciety, in the city of Albany — T/ie Fe- 
male Branch is situated on Elm st., 
between Eagle and Hawk sts. It is 
managed by the Sisters of Charity, of 



BIB— BIC 



whom there are ten stationed here. 
There are 260 inmates, from four to 
fifteen years old. They are supported 
in part by the county, which pays $1.50 
per week for each. Places are gener- 
ally found for them when they are fif- 
teen, but those who show a taste for 
needle-work are placed in an industrial 
school on N. Pearl St., where they are 
instructed till they are 19. The build- 
ing on Elm St. occupies a conspicuous 
position, and is well adapted for its 
purpose. Recent important improve- 
ments have made it in every respect a 
model institution. 

The Male Branch, like the female 
branch as at present designated, was 
established under the auspices of the 
present Cardinal McCloskey, while 
Bishop of Albany. The Christian 
Brothers took charge of it in 1854, 
and six are stationed here. It is sit- 
uated on Western ave. between Part- 
ridge and Erie sts., on a farm of 80 
acres. There are 120 inmates, from 5 
to 14 years of age. The county pays 
$1.50 a week for each; the other ex- 
penses are provided for by collections 
taken twice a year in the CathoUc 
churches. The boys are taught the 
common English branches and to work 
on the farm. At the age of 14, places 
are found for them. The present 
three-story building was erected in 
1853, under the personal supervision 
of William Ellis, architect, and Rt. 
Rev. John J. Conroy, then Vicar-Gen- 
eral. (See City Tract and Mission- 
ary Society, Industrial School, 
Hospitals, Woman's Exchange, Af- 
rican Race.) 

Bible Society, The Albany- 
County, ranks among the first of its 
kind in the country, and was organized 
in this city Oct. i. 1810, for the exclu- 
sive -work, of distributing the Holy 
Scriptures without note or comment. 
In 1 81 6, its representatives assisted to 
organize the American Bible Society, 



to which it has since been auxilary. It 
has always been actively employed in 
supplying the Scriptures, and has can- 
vassed the county several times for 
that special purpose. It is one of the 
oldest of local institutions, and deserves 
the sympathy and support of the whole 
Christian community, depending, as it 
does, on annual contributions received 
from co-operating churches and in- 
dividuals for means to carry forward its 
benevolent and economical operations, 
which are under the direction of a 
board of officers and managers com- 
posed equally of clergymen and lay- 
members of the churches in the county, 
all of whom render their service gratu- 
itously. The annual circulation reaches 
about 3000 copies of the Scriptures 
printed in various languages, and which 
are always kept at the Depository in 
this city, and sold at the cost of manu- 
facturing, or given away to needy per- 
sons and charitable institutions, when- 
ever their want becomes known. 
Maurice E. Viele, pres. ; Rev. Samuel F. 
Morrow, vice-pres.; Charles P. Easton, 
cor. sec; Albert P. Stevens, treas.; 
Stephen R. Gray, Depositary, Nos. 
42 and 44 State street. 

Bi-Centennial. — The 200th anni- 
versary of the incorporation of the city 
of Albany will occur July 22, 1886, 
and will, no doubt, be observed by 
appropriate and interesting ceremonies. 
It appears from the city records that 
the method of celebrating " The Cen- 
tury Anniversary," July 22, 1786, as 
recommended by a committee of the 
Common Council, was as follows : 

" That Common Council convene in the 
forenoon of that day at Ten o'Clock at the City 
Hall, and from thence proceed in procession to 
the Hill westward of the City, attended by 
such Citizens as shall Chuse: That during the 
Procession all the Bells of the several Churches 
in this City shall Ring, and at the arrival at 
the place assigned for the Purpose on the Hill, 
Thirteen Toasts and one for the Charter, under 
the Discharge of Fourteen Cannon. 

" Resolved, that the former Committee be a 



BIC- BOS 



Committee to prepare and superintend the said Bleecker Hall. — At 529 Broadway. 
Business, who are to purchase a Barrel of j^ headquarters of the Burgesses 
Good Spirits for the purpose. . . , j r 1 • • 

Corps; and used for dancing parties 

Bicycling-(See Out-door Sports), and chamber concerts. 



Bill-posting on any lamp-post, 
electric light pole, telegraph pole, 
shade tree, fire hydrant, curbstone or 
flagstone, is forbidden l3y a city ordi- 
nance, which is not observed in the 
slightest degree. Bill posters must be 
licensed. The principal man in the 
business is Fred A. Keeler, 15 Green 
St. He owns all the prominent bill 
boards in the city. 

Birds.— The bird stores of a city 
are always interesting places to visit, 
especially to those who are fond of 
the feathered songsters. There are 
usually some curious foreign birds on 
exhibition, and always good singers to 
be heard. The Hartz mountain cana- 
ries are sold from $2.50 to ^3; parrots 
from $6 to ^50; mocking birds from 
^5, for young ones, up to ^20, and 
even $50. In buying, it is always best 
to go to some responsible dealer; the 
canaries hawked about the streets, and 
sold under price, are either females 
which never sing, or inferior stock of 
some kind. The Old Albany Bird and 
Cage Store, kept by William R. White, 
44 Green St., has been established for 
more than 25 years, and customers are 
there always honestly dealt with. 

Blasie's Imper ial Porcelain 
Baths. — The only establishment in 
the city where the Porcelain Bath Tubs 
are in use, is at Blasie's barber shop, 
389 Broadway, (adjoining the Mansion 
House.) The most fastidious con- 
cede that for beauty, comfort and 
cleanliness, these baths have no equal. 
The bathing rooms are open daily 
from 6 A. M. to 8 p. m.; on Saturdays 
till II p. M., and on Sundays till 12 M. 
Price for bath, 25 cents. Blasie's 50- 
ct. instantaneous hair and whisker dye, 
colors black or brown. 



Bleecker Park. — A small triangu- 
lar enclosure in front of the Cathedral, 
and bounded by Eagle st. Madison 
ave. and Madison place, was enclosed 
in 1835, the city appropriating ^1,000 
and the remainder being raised by 
subscription. It contains the first pub- 
lic fountain erected in Albany, the 
gift of Wm. Fleming, dedicated in 
July, 1863. 

Bonfires in the streets are forbid- 
den under a fine of ^10 or less. No 
one would ever imagine on election 
night there was any such ordinance. 

Books of Reference, in regard to 
Albany, are not numerous. The An- 
nals of Albany, ten volumes, and Col- 
lections on the History of Albany, four 
volumes, by the late Joel Munsell, are 
of much historical value, but are out of 
print and scarce; the Settlement and 
Early History of Albany, by William 
Barnes, is an interesting production; 
the Memoirs of an American Lady, 
by Mrs. Grant, gives a charming pict- 
ure of life in this colony prior to the 
revolution. Sampson, Davenport & 
Co. publish annually the Albany Direc- 
tory. The Albany Hand-Book for 
1 88 1, contains much information not 
otherwise easily attainable. There is 
an atlas of Albany, also one of Albany 
county, and an Albany County Direc- 
tory. Two or three histories have been 
projected, but none are yet published. 

Boston «t Albany Railroad. — Sta- 
tion in the Union depot. Maiden lane. 
The direct route to Pittsfield, Spring- 
field, Worcester and Boston. The 
Boston & Worcester, and the Western 
railroads were consolidated in the B. 
& A., Dec. I, 1867. The Western 



BOU— BRI 2: 

railroad received its charter in 1833, 
and was organized in 1836. The first 
locomotive arrived at Greenbush from 
Boston, Dec. 19, 1841, and a celebra- 
tion of the completion of the road took 
place Dec. 28, following. Its equip- 
ment includes 244 locomotives, 229 
passenger cars, 5,437 freight cars. 
Employs 5,233 persons. Carried last 
year 8,079,072 passengers; moved 3,- 
411,324 tons of freight; average rate 
per mile per passenger, through, 2.21 
cents; way, 2.24 cents; average rate 
per mileper ton of freight, through, .87 
cents; way, 1.84 cents. Wages and 
salaries, $3,080,567. Total earnings, 
$8,539,875; expenses, $6,896,804; div- 
idend 8 per cent, $1,407,100; surplus, 
$235,971. Not a passenger was killed 
nor injured during the last railroad 
year. 



Boulevards.- 

Park.) 



-(See Washington 



Brewing. — The business of brewing 
was begun in this city as early as 1633, 
and has for many years been a leading 
industry. One of the most prominent 
brewers in the last century was Harman 
Gansevoort, whose establishment which 
stood about on the site of Stanvvix Hall, 
was taken down in 1807. There are 
now 20 breweries, some of them very 
extensive. Albany ale, at one time 
was on tap in all the large cities of the 
country, but of late has been displaced, 
to some extent, by lager beer which is 
also brewed here in large quantities. 
(See Lager Beer.) The total yearly 
product of beer of all kinds in this city 
last year was 332,794 bbls., valued at 
$2,000,000. 

Bricks. — There are ten brick- yards 
in Albany which produce annually 
from 30,000,000 to 40,000,000 brick. 
The material used, though lacking the 
iron deposits which give to Philadel- 
phia brick so clear a red, is of excel- 



lent quality, and brick made therefrom 
stand the weather belter than that 
made in many other localities. 

Bridges. — Three bridges span the 
Hudson at Albany. The first, or upper 
bridge, now used exclusively for freight 
trains, was opened Feb. 22, 1866, after 
thirty years of the most steadfast op- 
position, in which Troy took the lead. 
It is doubtful, however, whether the 
bridges have really injured that city a 
dollar; but they certainly have had a 
depressing effect upon some kinds of 
business in Albany, carting especially. 
Before, all trains had to be unloaded 
here, and the work this involved was 
very great; but now freight goes 
through without breaking bulk from 
New York to San Francisco. The up- 
per bridge is supported by twenty-one 
stone piers. The bridge proper is 
1,953 feet long, and with the trestle 
work 4,253 feet. Its cost, including 
necessary purchases of real estate, was 
$1,100,000. The middle bridge, also for 
railroads, is 1,940 feet long, or with ap- 
proaches 2,665 feet, that is, twenty-five 
feet over half a mile. The spans number 
twenty-two. The draw weighs about 
400 tons. Work of construction began 
in May, 1870, and the bridge was first 
used in 1872. The total cost of the 
two bridges was $2,532,357.43, of 
which the Central- Hudson paid $1,- 
173,133.80; the Boston & Albany 
$351,485; the rest by the companies 
who have had the earnings of the 
bridges. Over 60 men are employed 
upon them. The toll on both bridges 
for foot passengers is three cents; 
50 tickets for $1. A third bridge 
across the river was begun in 1876, but 
for several years progressed very slowly 
except in litigation, of which there was 
plenty. The bridge was finally com- 
pleted, and opened for teams and foot 
passengers, Jan. 24, 1882. It is at 
South Ferry st. below the steamboat 
landing; length, including approaches, 



23 



BRO— BUT 



1,669 fsst; 29 feet above low water 
mark. The draw, 400 teet long, 
weighs 1,500 tons, and is worked by a 
30 horse-power engine. Owned by 
Albany & Greenbush Bridge Co.; A. 
Bleecker Banks, pres. Tolls, foot pas- 
sengers, 2 cents; double teams, 15 
cents; single, 10 cents. It will even- 
tually be used as a railroad bridge, the 
top being arranged with that in view. 
State Street Bridge, leads from 
the foot of State st. over the basin to 
the pier. On the 22nd of August, 1840, 
the draw of this bridge gave way, and 
twenty-one persons were drowned. 

Broadway, runs from Gansevoort 
St. near the Island Creek to the nor- 
thern boundary of the city, and thence 
into the Troy road. No street in the 
city presents such a varied aspect. At 
the south end it is lined with foundries, 
iron shops, breweries, etc.; further 
along it is the abode of poor people; 
by the steamboat-landing it is given 
over to hotels and restaurants; then 
come provision houses and various 
stores, wholesale and retail; north of 
State it widens into one of the hand- 
somest streets in the city, having on it 
many tall commercial buildings; from 
Columbia st. to Clinton ave. it dwindles 
both in appearance and business; 
North of Clinton ave. it is, in a 
great measure, a street of substantial 
residences till the viaduct is reached; 
beyond which are several prominent 
manufacturing buildings, and where 
Broadway merges into the Troy road 
stands the Van Rensselaer mansion. 
(See Old Houses.) The old market 
used to stand in the centre of the street 
where it is widest (above State), and 
it was called North Market st. till 1840 
when it received its more metropolitan 
title. There was also a market at the 
steamboat landing, but the street south 
of State was known as Court St., and 
at one time was the most fashionable 
part of the city. 



Broadway Viaduct, The, was 

built in 1882-3 to obviate the great 
danger of crossing the tracks of the 
Central-Hudson railroad, on Broadway 
and Colonic street, where many per- 
sons had been killed. The grades of 
Broadway and Colonic and North Lan- 
sing sts. were depressed, and the 
tracks carried over upon iron bridges. 
The work was done, under provision 
of the Laws of 1881, at the expense of 
the railroad company, but the damage 
to adjacent property had to be met by 
the city The cost to the railroad 
company was $128,765; the damages 
to be paid by the city, including 
expenses, have been assessed at $134,- 
237- 

Burr, Aaron, who began his legal 
career in this city in 1782, is said to 
have had an office on the north side of 
Store lane, now Norton st., the second 
building from Pearl. His early mar- 
ried life was spent in Albany, and 
here his only legitimate daughter, 
Theodosia, was born; and although 
removed to New York when an infant, 
she was also married here, her father 
at that time again residing in Albany, 
being a member of the Legislature. 
Later in life (in 1824) he passed con- 
siderable time in this city. (See Fort 
Orange Club.) 

Buttermilk Falls. — What was nat- 
urally a romantic ravine, down which 
the Beaverkill plunged in foaming 
fury. Civilization and the street de- 
partment have destroyed the beauty of 
its surroundings, but something of its 
former state may be imagined by peer- 
ing at it from the vicinity of Swan st. 
south of Elm. It was suggested, at 
one time, that the park should be so 
located as to take in this feature; had 
this been done, Albany would have 
had the most romantic and picturesque 
pleasure ground of any city in 
America. 



CAL— CAN 



24 



Oalvin Edson, the walking skele- 
ton, came to Albany in April, 1830, ex- 
hibited himself at the Museum, and 
gave levees at the Medical College. 
He was then forty-two years old, five 
feet two inches high, and weighed but 
sixty pounds. Subsequently he went 
upon the stage, as an actor, in the 
character of yeremiah Thin. The 
more he ate the poorer he grew, till, in 
1833, he swallowed his last mouthful 
and lost his last ounce, dying at the 
weight of forty-five pounds. For 
months previous the medical colleges 
had kept track of him, anxious, so long 
as he had expressed himself while liv- 
ing as willing to promote the cause of 
science after death, to help what they 
could by utilizing his remains. New 
York and Albany were first on the 
ground, and through \ht. finesse of the 
late Mr. Arnold Nelson, and of Dr. 
Alden March, together with the pay- 
ment of a good round sum to the skel- 
eton's widow, Calvin Edson's forty-five 
pounds was secured for the Museum of 
the Albany Medical College. By some 
process of embalming, he was pre- 
served with his skin on, placed in a 
glass case, and labeled "No. i;" and 
his appearance to-day, barring discol- 
oration, is said to be not so very differ- 
ent from what it was when animated 
by the breath of life and a hearty meal 
of victuals. 



Canals. — This is one eastern term- 
inus of the Erie canal, the other being 
at Troy. The canals of the State were 
made free of tolls by a constitutional 
amendment, adopted in 1883. 

The Erie Canal is 363 miles long, 
connecting the Hudson river at Albany 
and Troy with Lake Erie at Buffalo; 
was begun in 181 7 and opened in 
1825; original cost, ^7,602,000; en- 
larged between the years 1835 and 
1862 from 40 feet wide at surface to 
70; from 28 feet at bottom to 56, and 
from a depth of 4 feet to 7. It has 57 
double and 15 single locks. The first 
boat from Buffalo passed through the 
lock into the Albany basin at three 
minutes before 1 1 A. M., Oct. 26, 1825. 
Cannon, placed in hearing of one an- 
other, announced from Albany to Buf- 
falo and from Albany to Sandy Hook 
that the great work had been com- 
pleted. The signal was returned in 
the same way and reached here from 
New York five minutes before 12 m. 

The Champlain Canal, begun in 
1 81 7, was completed in 1822. It con- 
nects the Hudson with Lake Cham- 
plain at Whitehall, and is 66 miles 
long. Has 20 locks. 

Canal St., running west from 90 N. 
Pearl to Robin, the old bed of the 
P'oxenkill, a stream which for many 
years was abundantly stocked with fish. 






tmi: 




■iiiaiaiaiiiiiigiM^^^^^^^ jaiiiiM^^^^^ 



THE CAPITOL. 



nnhe great structure which towers 
-'■ majestically from the brow of the 
hill overlooking the Hudson at Albany, 
needs no cicerone to announce its 
name, no guide book to designate its 
object. Its fame as the greatest and 
grandest legislative building of modern 
times is widely spread ; and from far 
and near, come thousands annually, to 
view its grandeur of design, its beauty 
of ornamentation; and like the Queen 
of Sheba, after her call upon King 
Solomon, they go home, declaring, 
that the one-half had not been told 
them. The foresight, which makes 
possible an adequate comprehension of 
the needs, a century hence, of a State 
like this, is of no common order; and 
it is no wonder that ideas and plans 
based upon such prescience, appear 
to many, wild and extravagant. It is 
this unfortunate but not unnatural 
shortsightedness, that has given birth 
to much of the opposition which the 
building of the Capitol encountered. 
In time, all will agree, that it is none 
too grand, none too beautiful, and 
none too costly for the chief edifice of 
the grandest, the proudest, the most 
prosperous and the most progressive 
state in the American Union. But to 
have started with the proposition that 
it was to cost fifteen or twenty millions 
would have been hopeless. It has 
taken years to educate the public up to 
the idea of what is only sufficient in 



this matter, and it is an actual fact that 
some have not reached that stage of 
advancement yet. 

History. 

The old Capitol (built in 1806-8) at 
an expense of ^110,685.42, had been 
found wholly inadequate, and there 
was much discussion about a new legis- 
lative building and where it should be 
erected. New York city had long 
coveted the Capital, but the central and 
western portions of the state, while not 
altogether satisfied with having it where 
it is, were still more averse to seeing it 
moved down the river. The conse- 
quence M'as, it remained at Albany, 
which after all is the most convenient, 
and so far as population is concerned, 
the most central of any ehgible point 
that can be named. The legislature 
has met here continuously since 1797, 
in the Stadt Huis, cor, Broadway and 
Hudson ave. first, and afterwards in 
the old Capitol which stood till 1883 on 
a site in front of the present building. 

The first definite action taken 
by the legislature on the subject of a 
new capitol was April 24, 1863, when 
Senator James A. Bell, from the com- 
mittee on pubhc buildings, offered a 
resolution (which was adopted) that 
the trustees of the capitol and the 
chairman of the committee on public 
buildings be authorized to procure suita- 
ble plans for a new capitol, and report 



(25) 



26 



to the next legislature. They did so, 
recommending the plans submitted by 
Fuller & Jones. Early in 1865, a com- 
mittee was appointed by the senate to 
ascertain by correspondence with vari- 



Park, or in any public place, and also 
proposed to erect all the necessary 
buildings free of expense to the state; 
and, in addition, build an executive 
mansion on Fifth avenue, opposite 




THE (X LDEN CORRIDOR. 



ous^municipalities on what terms the 
necessary ground and buildings could 
be obtained. New York showed her 
desire for the honor, by offering a site 
on the Battery, or at Citv Hall park, 
or in Tompkins square, or in Central 



Central Park. Yonkers, Saratoga, 
Athens, Whitestown, Argyle and Sing 
Sing made liberal offers; Buffalo, 
Oswego and Ithaca declined to enter- 
tain the proposition, as did Sandy Hill. 
" If, " wrote the worthy president of 



27 



that virtuous village, " the time has 
come when our capitol is to go to the 
highest bidder like most everything 
that has any connection with our pres- 
ent legislature, then I would frankly 
say that our people are not the ones to 
offer large bribes or inducements for 
the purpose of building up their place 
or people to the detriment and incon- 
venience of all the rest of the people 
of the state. " 

The first committee (appointed April 
24, 1863) had suggested in their prop- 
ositions for plans that they should be 
made with reference to the square 
about the old building as the site for 
the new one. The city of Albany now 
offered to convey to the state the lot 
adjoining, occupied by the Congress 
Hall block, or any other lands in the 
city required for the purpose. 

On the 1st of May, 1865 an act was 
passed (Chapter 648) authorizing the 
erection of a new Capitol, whenever 
the city of Albany should deed over 
the land proposed, providing for the 
appointment of three commissioners, 
and appropriating $10,000 for the 
commencement and prosecution of the 
work. On the 14th of April, 1866, 
the city having made good its offer at 
an expense of 3 190,000, an act was 
passed ratifying and confirming the 
location of the capitol, and May 3d of 
the same year, Hamilton Harris, John 
V. L. Pruyn, of Albany, and O. B. 
Latham, of Seneca Falls, were ap- 
pointed New Capitol Commissioners. 
On the 22d of April, 1867, an act was 
passed appropriating $250,000 for the 
new Capitol, but providing that no part 
should be expended until a plan had 
been agreed upon not to cost when 
completed more than four millions. 
The plan submitted by Thomas Fuller 
was adopted, and he was appointed 
architect, and William J. McAlpine 
consulting engineer. 

Work Begun. — On the 9th of De- 
cember, 1867, the excavating was begun 



on the corner of Hawk and State 
streets by John Bridgford, who had 
under him 100 men. 

On the 19th of May, 1868, an act 
was passed appropriating an additional 
$250,000, and adding to the commis- 
sion Messrs. James S. Thayer, Alonzo 
B. Cornell, William A. Rice, James 
Terwilliger and John T, Hudson. 
The commission were also authorized 
to take as additional land one-half the 
block adjoining Congress Hall block 
on the west, and to change the plans 
at their discretion, with this proviso : 
That if they were so changed that the 
building would cost more than four 
millions, the commissioners were not 
to proceed to construction till such 
plans were approved by the legislature. 
Meantime work had been delayed for 
a year in order that the additional 
lands might be secured. On the 2d 
of October, 1868, the commissioners 
having come to the conclusion that 
preparing the land was not included 
in the term " construction, " the demo- 
lition of houses on State, Washington, 
Spring and Hawk sts. was begun, and 
in December following, 400 men and 
200 teams were employed carrying the 
earth that had been excavated and de- 
positing it down the bank at the cor. 
of Swan and Canal sts. The enlarged 
plans, prepared by Fuller & Laver, 
were duly reported to the legislature 
and approved by act of May 10, 1869. 

The Foundation. — ^The first stone 
in the foundation was laid July 7, 1869, 
by John V. L. Pruyn. This foundation, 
although, of course, out of sight, and 
scarcely thought of by the ordinary 
visitor, is a wonder in itself. In the 
first place, excavations were made to 
an average depth of 15 43-^00 ^^et be- 
low the surface. Then a bed of con- 
crete, 4 feet thick, was laid, constitu- 
ting a stone floor which will grow 
harder and harder as time rolls on. 
The sub-basement extends down 19 
feet 4 inches, and contains 735,000 



28 

cubic feet of stone, while the brick bricks. The foundation of the main 
walls, from 32 inches to 5 feet thick, tower is no feet square at the base, 
contain between ten and eleven milhon tapering to 70 feet square at the base- 




li»,liliuiiiimi,iillllllll,lUUUilllllllllllllllilllliiilUiUlimiilllllllM 

ASSEMBLY STAIRCASE. 



29 



ment floor. In this sub-basiment are 
no less than 144 different apartments 
used for heating, storing and ventila- 
ting purposes. 

The Corner Stone was laid with 
great ceremony by the Grand Lodge 
of Free and Accepted Masons on the 



in the newspapers, and many tedious 
investigations have been instituted, the 
details of which it is as impossible to 
enter into here as it is unnecessary. 
It is only just to say, however, that 
while the whole system of erecting 
pubHc buildings by commissons has on 



24th of June, 1 87 1. The exercises general principles been condemned as 
took place in the midst of a drenching unwise, nothing against the personal 
rain, but were said to have been wit- character of either or any of the com- 




CAPS TO COLUMNS UNDER LADIES' GALLERY. 



nessed by at least 20,000 persons. Ad- 
dresses were made by Hon. Hamilton 
Harris and Gov. John T. Hoffman. 

Since that time work has progressed, 
sometimes faster and sometimes slower, 
with occasionally an entire cessation 
for lack of funds as in 1874, when it 
stood still six months. The enterprise 
like all other great undertakings has 
met with obstructers and fault-tinders 
innumerable, from the workman dis- 
charged for incompetency to the gov- 
ernor who called it a " public calami- 
ty." The prevalent opinion that no 
public work of this magnitude can be 
carried on without unlawful gains to 
some one, has led many to suppose 
that such is the case with the new Cap- 
itol. Charges of various kinds have 
time and again been made, orally and 



missioners or superintendents was ever 
substantiated. 

Changes in Commissioners. — In 
April, 1 87 1, the commission was so 
changed as to be constituted as fol- 
lows : Hamilton Harris, William C. 
Kingsley, William A. Rice, Chauncey 
M. Depew, Delos De Wolf and Edwin 
A. Merritt. In February, 1875, ^^'^• 
Hamilton Harris, who had been chair- 
man of the board for nearly ten years, 
resigned. Resident here in Albany, 
and from the first deeply interested in 
having a capitol worthy of the Empire 
State, his services during the critical 
periods in the building's history have 
been of incalculable value, and after 
his resignation, as chairman of the 
finance committee of the senate at a 
time when a most determined opposi- 



30 



tion to any further appropriations was 
made by the New York city press, he 
again fought the battles of the Capitol 
throught to victory. On the 2ist of 
June, 1875, *^^ entire old board was 
abolished, and the lieutenant-governor 
(William Dorsheimer), the canal audi- 
tor (Francis S. Thayer), and the attor- 
ney-general (Daniel Pratt), were con- 
stituted a new board. Of this board, 
Lieut. -Gov. Dorsheimer took an active 
interest in completing and furnishing 
the interior, and much of its present 
sumptuousness, especially the assembly 
chamber, is due to his taste. This 
board was superseded by the succes- 
sors to these several offices as follows : 
Lieut.-Gov. George G. Hoskins, from 
Jan. I, 1880 to Jan. i, 1883, when he 
was succeeded by Lieut.-Gov. David 
B. Hill; Canal Auditor George W. 
Schuyler, from Jan. i, 1876, to May 20, 
1880, when he was succeeded by John 
A. Place, who held the office till it was 
abolished in 1883; Attorney-Generals 
Chas. S. Fairchild, from Nov. 2, 1875, 
Augustus Schoonmaker, Jr., from Nov. 
6, 1877; Hamilton Ward, from Nov. 
4, 1879; Leslie W. Russell, from Nov. 
8, 1 881. 

In 1883 a law was passed creating 
the office of Capitol Commissioner, 
abolishing the office of supt. of the 
Capitol, and empowering the single 
commissioner to take full charge of 
the work, at a yearly salary of $7,000. 
This bill was signed on the 30th of 
March, 1883, ^'^d the same day Gov. 
Cleveland sent to the senate the nomi- 
nation of Isaac G. Perry. He was con- 
firmed April 5. 

Changes in Superintendents. — In 
December, 1872, John Bridgford, the 
first superintendent was retired, and 
June II, 1873, William J. Mc Alpine, 
who from the beginning of the work 
had been the consulting engineer, was 
appointed superintendent, and remain- 
ed such till May 29, 1874, when James 
W. Eaton was appointed in his place. 



and held the position till the office was 
abolished, as just stated. 

Change in Architects, — With the 
abolition of the old commission in 1875 
came a change in architects, Mr. Thos. 
Fuller being superseded by an advisory 
board, appointed July 15, 1875, con- 
sisting of Frederick Law Olmsted, 
Leopold Eidlitz and Henry H. Rich- 
ardson. Up to this time the exterior 
walls had been carried up upon the 
Fuller plans, a working model of which 
had been constructed at a cost of 
$3,000, and M'hich was on exhibition 
for several years. Pictures of the 
Capitol as it was to have been had also 
gone broadcast over the land and 
world. This plan was that of the Ital- 
ian Renaissance, which was now modi- 
fied to the Romanesque, but work had 
not proceeded far when the legislature 
passed an act directing a return to the 
original style and that the building be 
carried up to the roof in accordance 
therewith. This has been done so far 
as possible, the result being what is 
called the Free Renaissance. 

Occupied by the Legislature. — 
The Capitol was first occupied by the 
legislature Jan. 7, 1879, the senate 
meeting on the second floor, in the 
room originally intended for the court 
of appeals, the assembly in the assem- 
bly chamber. The same evening a 
grand reception was given by the citi- 
zens of Albany, when 8,000 people 
were present. Gilmore's band, of New 
York, and Austin's orchestra, of Al- 
bany, furnished the music. The sup- 
per was served under a canopy in the 
central court. 

The formal occupation took place on 
the evening of Feb. 12, 1879, when in 
presence of both houses of the legisla- 
ture, the court of appeals, the State 
officers and others, assembled in the as- 
sembly chamber, prayer was offered by 
Rt. Rev. WiUiam Croswell Doane, D.D. 
and addresses were delivered by Lieut.- 
Gov. William Dorsheimer, Speaker 



31 



Thomas G. Alvord and Hen. Erastus 
Brooks. The senate chamber was first 
occupied March lo, 1881. Other 
parts of the building have been occu- 
pied as they have been 
made ready for the va- 
rious officers and depart- 
ments. 

Description. 

No matter from what 
side you approach Al- 
bany, the building makes 
itself strikingly evident, 
rearing its heavy masses 
and sharp roofs into the 
sky from the top of the 
hill. The impression 
produced varies with va- 
rious persons. One ac- 
complished writer finds 
it " not unlike that made 
by the photographs of 
those gigantic structures 
in the northern and east- 
ern parts of India, which 
are seen in full series on 
the walls of the South 
Kensington, and by their 
barbaric profusion of or- 
namentation and true 
magnificence of design 
give the stay-at-home 
Briton some faint inkling 
of the empire which 
has invested his queen 
with another and more 
high-sounding title. Yet 
when close at hand the 
building does not bear 
out this connection with 
Indian architecture of 
the grand style ; it might 
be mere chance that at 
a distance there is a simi- 
larity; or it may be that 
the smallness of size in 
the decorations as com- 
pared to the structure 
itself explains fully why 



that Oriental architecture should have 
recurred to mind. As in the great 
temple enclosures of India, there is in 
the quadrangular scheme of the Capitol 




DORMER, STREET SIDE. 



32 



a tendency to confuse the eye by the 
number of projections, arches, pillars, 
shallow recesses and what not, which 
variegate the different facades. The 
confusion is not entirely displeasing; 
it gives a sense of unstinted riches, 
and so far represents exactly the spirit 
that has reared the pile." 

On the other hand, Mr. Edward A. 
Freeman, the English historian, was, 
by the general look of the city, carried 
so completely into another part of the 
world " that if anyone had come up 
and told me in French, old or new, 
that the new Capitol was ' la chateau 
de Monseigneur le due d'Albanie,' I 
could almost have believed him." 

The situation is a most commanding 
one. The Capitol square, which em- 
braces all the land between Eagle st. 
on the east and Capitol place on the 
west, and between Washington ave. 
on the north and State st on the south, 
is 1,034 feet long by 330 feet wide, 
and contains 7 84- 100 acres. The 
elevation of Capitol place is 155 feet 
above the level of the Hudson, and 
the ground falls off to the eastward 
51 feet. In front. State st. stretches 
away towards the river, one of the 
broadest and handsomest avenues in 
the country. 

The Size of the structure impresses 
the beholder at once. It is 300 feet 
north and south, by 400 feet east and 
west, and with the porticos will cover 
three acres and seven square feet. The 
walls are 108 feet high from the water 
table, and all this is worked out of 
solid granite brought, most of it, from 
Hallowell, Maine. There are other 
buildings which, in the mere matter of 
area, exceed this one. The capitol at 
Washington, for instance, covers a 
little over three and a half acres, but it 
is of marble and of sandstone painted 
white. The new city hall in Philadel- 
phia covers nearly four and a half 
acres, but that is also of marble. The 
government buildings at Ottawa, Can- 



ada, are of sandstone. All lack the 
massive effect which this great pile of 
granite produces. Its outer wall, at 
the base, is 16 feet 4 inches thick. 

The Central Court is 137 by 92 
feet, extending an open space to the 
sky, and admitting much needed light 
and air. Above the six dormer win- 
dows that open on the court, and that 
are above the fourth or gallery story, are 
sculptured the arms of six families that 
have become more or less distinguished 
in the history of the State. 

The Stuyvesant arms are on the north side, 
west. The carving is as follows: party per 
fess argent and gules: in upper a hunting 
hound in pursuit of a hare. In lower a stag 
current. Crest. A ciemi stag issuing from a 
royal crown. Motto. Jovi preestat fidere 
gua?n hoinini. 

The Schuyler arms are on the north side, 
middle. The carving is as follows: Vert a 
cubit arm habited issuing from the sinister 
base point holding a falcon proper. Crest, a 
falcon proper gorged with a fillet, strings re- 
flexed. 

The Livingston arms are on the north side, 
east. The carving is: Quarterly, first and 
fourth quarter argent three gilli-flowers; sec- 
ond quarter quarterly first and last gules a 
chevron argent, second and third azure three 
marl lets; third quarter or, a bend argent be- 
tween six billets. Crest, a demi Hercules with 
club in dexter band and the sinister strangling 
a serpent. lAoxxo, Si je puis. 

The Jay arms are on the south side, west. 
The carving is: argent a chevron gules, in 
chief a demi sun in splendor, between two mul- 
lets argent below, in base a rock proper sur- 
mounted with a large bird close. Crest, a cross 
calvaiy. 

The Clinton arms are on the south side mid- 
dle and are carved as follows: argent six cross 
crosslets fitchee, three, two, one, on a chief two 
mullets, pierced. Crest, a plume of six ostrich 
feathers on a ducal crown. 

The Tompkins arms are on the south side, 
east. The carving is: argent on a chevron 
gules between three birds close, as many cross 
crosslets. Crest, a unicorn's head armed and 
maned and gorged with a chaplet laurel. 

While no patriotic soul objects to 
giving due honor to those who have 
served the State, the idea of carving 
private arms upon a public building 
has not in it the exact " elements of 
popularity." The carving can best be 
seen from the upper stories. 



The first or ground story, which is 
nearly on a level with Washington ave. 
and State St., is devoted to committee 
rooms and offices, elsewhere specified. 
Ascent to the other stories may be 
made by elevators, but visitors will 
generally prefer to walk up one or the 
other of the grand stair-cases. 

The Assembly vStaircase, on the 
north side, is of Dorchester freestone, 
of soft drab color; its ascent is easy, 
its design vigorous and scholarly. 
cut elsewhere gives a 
better idea than words 
can do of its majestic 
proportions. 

The Golden Corri- 
DOR.-On arriving upon 
the second floor by the 
assembly stair-case, will 
be seen the Golden Cor- 
ridor, 140 feet long by 
20 wide and about 25 
feet high, extending 
along the whole "court" 
side of the north cen- 
tre. Seven large win- 
dows opening upon this 
court divide the corri- 
dor into bays, 20 feet 
square. Each bay is 
flanked by piers be- 
tween which arches are 
turned and these arches 
sustain a low and rib- 
less groined vault. Mr. 
Montgomery Schuyler 
says : 

" The piers are covered 
with a damask of red upon 
umber. The angle mould- 
ings are solidly gilded. The 
crimsomwall screen on both 
sides is overlaid with a sim- 
ple reticulation of gold lines 
framing ornaments in yellow 
The whole vault is gilded, 
and upon its ground of gold 
traversing each face of the 
vault, is a series of bands of 
minute ornament in brown, 
scarlet and deep blue. 
The method — this close 
mosaic of minute quantities 



of crude color — is entirely Oriental; and 
the effect is Oriental also. The varying 
surfaces of the vaulting, each covered with 
fretted gold, give a vista, lengthened by the 
dwindling arches, alive with flashing lights and 
shimmering shadows; and under the iridescent 
ceiling there seems always to hang a luminous 
haze. In the quality of pure splendor there is 
no architectual dectoration in this country 
which is comparable to this." 

Opening out of the corrtdor to the 

right, is the room originally intended 

for the court of appeals, but declined 

The by the judges as unsuitable for their 




ell \MHI-R. 



34 




FIKE-PLACE. 



purpose. It is 60 feet square and 25 
feet high, subdivided into parallelo- 
grams, one twice the width of the 
other, by a line of red granite columns 
carrying with broad low arches a mar- 
ble wall. The walls are of sandstone, 
visible in some places but covered in 
most with a decoration in deep red, 
and with the tall wainscoting of oak, 
which oecupiesthe wall above the dado 
of sandstone. The ceiling is a superb 



construction in carved oak carried on 
a system of beams diminishing in size 
from the great girders supported by 
great braces, and finally closed by 
oaken panels, profusely carved. The 
senate occupied this room previous to 
the completion of the senate chamber, 
and it has since been used for various 
purposes. At the time of the " scare " 
in relation to the ceiling of the assem- 
bly cham])er (in 1882-3), it was hastily 



35 



fitted up for occupation b> the assembly, 
with gallery, etc. The members sat 
there one day and returned to their 
quarters. When the state library 
building was razed, this room and the 
Golden Corridor were utilized tempo- 
rarily for Ubrary purposes. 

The Assembly Chamber. — Ascend- 
ing another flight of the staircase, we 
come to what is, without doubt, the 
grandest legislative hall in the world, 
the assembly chamber, 84 by 140 feet, 
including the galleries, although the 
chamber proper is but 84 by 55. Four 
great pillars, four feet in diameter, of 
red granite, sustain the largest groined 
stone arch in the world, the key-stone 
being 56 feet from the floor. These 
pillars and the arch which springs 
from them are the most striking feat- 
ures of the room, but it will bear a 
world of study. Mr. Schuyler says : 

"The perspective of the room.is so arranged 
that from the entrance one looks through the 
large end of the telescope, as it were, down 
vistas framed in arches narrowing and vaults 
hanging lower as they recede, from the great 
red pillars on either hand, along the vast and 
ever-varying surfaces of the ceilings, their 
creamy sandstone faces divided by the sweep- 
ing lines of the deeper toned ribs and arches 
that uphold them, and Iretted with wide belts 
of ornament climbing their climbing courses, 
touched with the gleam ot gold and standing 
out from hollows filled with deep ultra marine 
and burning vermillion, to ' the dark backward 
and abysm ' of the remotest vault. Through 
the lower arches one sees the openings of the 
windows which flood the transept, not with the 
dim, religious light of old cathedrals, but with 
naked and open daylight. Around them wheel 
the intricate arabesques of their arches defined 
against a ground of vermillion and encircled 
with bands of gold. Above and between the 
lower three, beneath the broad belt which is 
some day to carry a sculptured procession, the 
whole wall is covered with arabesques in a 
field of dull red. Above the upper arcade are 
glimpses of the draperies and the attitudes of 
colossal painted figures. 

"One feels at once in this great stone room 
that he is in the presence of a noble monument, 
and that in what a musician would call the ' dis- 
persed harmony ' of this hiearchy of ordered 
masses, and this balance and opposition of 
sweeping curves there has been achieved in the 
America of the nmeteenth century a work not 
unworthy to be compared with what has been 



done in more famous building ages. When 
the shock of such an impression has subsided, 
and he has time to examine the sources of this 
effect, he finds them in the general conception 
of the room rather than in any of its parts, or 
in any aggregation of them less than the whole. 
Here is a distinctly Gothic room, which in its 
plan has so many resemblances to a mediaeval 
church that it cannot be described without 
using the terms of ecclesiology, which yet has 
probably never reminded a single visitor of a 
church. Its civic character has been impressed 
upon it by the force of design alone, and mainly 
by the modeling of its masses, after the noble 
arrangement which this modeling assists. 
There is a vigor in it which reminds one of 
Romanesque or early Gothic, but it has 
none of the rudeness of Romanesque vaulted 
architecture, and none of the tentative imper- 
fection of early Gothic work. Except in one 
conspicuous instance, the structure is com- 
pletely developed, and complete development 
is the mark of perfected Gothic. This com- 
pleteness, however, nowhere degenerates into 
the attenuation that comes of excessive sub- 
division—nowhere into a loss of that sense of 
power which belongs to unhewn masses fulfill- 
ing structural necessities. There is nothing 
here of which one may say : ' 'Twere to con- 
sider too curiously, to consider so. ' Neither 
is there anything of that ascetic intensity 
which most of all has set its stamp upon the 
ecclesiastical work of the middle ages. This 
work is as day-lit as Grecian Doric. It is 
frank and manly and it is eminently alive — 
distinctly a product of our time. " 

While all admit the grandeur of the 
room, its vastness is also its defect; for 
as a debating hall it is far from perfect. 
With the assembly in perfect order (a 
condition rarely observed for ten con- 
secutive minutes) a good speaker can 
be heard without difficulty, but the 
statesman with weak lungs, poor voice, 
uninteresting manner, or thread-bare 
subject is apt to complain bitterly of 
the acoustics. At one time many fears 
were entertained of the safety of the 
ceiling. It had been found necessary, 
in order to keep the key-stone in place, 
to weight it very heavily; and this 
extra weight upon the sandstone caused 
some of the defective stones to crack. 
Small pieces fell, and there was much 
apprehension that the building was 
settling unevenly, and that the tons 
upon tons of stone in and about the 
ceiling, would some day come down 



36 



with a crash. A commission of ex- 
perts reported that it was best to take 
the ceiling down. The architects pro- 
tested, and offered to repair it at their 
own expense; they were allowed to do 
so, replaced the defective 
stones, and all anxiety ap- 
pears to have subsided. 

The Allegorical Pic- 
tures. — No one feature of 
the Capitol has caused more 
comment than the pictures 
that occupy the upper por- 
tion of the north and south 
walls of this chamber. They 
were painted by the late 
WilUam M. Hunt, one of 
the greatest of American 
artists, and possess a melan- 
cnoly inter est from the fact 
that they are the only work 
of the kind he ever did. He 
received for his services the 
sum of ^15,000. 

The space covered by each 
is 15 by 45 feet. That on 
the northern wall represents 
the allegory of Armujd and 
Ahriman, or the flight of 
Evil before Good, or, as it is 
more generally interpreted, 
the Flight of Night. The 
Queen of Night is driving 
before the dawn, charioted 
on clouds drawn by three 
plunging horses, one black, 
one white, one red, without 
other visible restraint than 
that of a swarthy guide, who 
floats at the left of the pic- 
ture, and whose hand is 
lightly laid upon the head 
of the outermost horse. At 
the right of the goddess, and 
in deep shade, is the recum- 
bent figure of a sleeping 
mother with a sleeping child 
upon her breast. 

The picture on the south- 
ern wall represents the Dis- 



coverer standing upright in a boat, 
dark against the sunset sky. For- 
tune erect behind him trimming 
the sail with her lifted left hand 
while her right holds the tiller. The 




li\ 





37 



boat is rising to a sea, and is attended 
by Hope at the prow, with one arm 
resting on it, and one pointing forward ; 
Faith, whose face is buried in her 
arms, and who is floating with the tide, 
and Science unrolUng a chart at the 
side. 

Van Brunt's Criticism. — Henry 
Van Brunt in an article in the Atlantic 
Monthly (May,- 1879), characterizes 
these pictures as " the most important 
of the kind yet executed in this 
country, " criticises them at length as 
architectual decorations and concludes 
as follows : " We cannot but consider 
that the opportunity has been mis- 
understood in a fundamental point, 
and that work of a far lower grade, 
than that of Mr. Hunt, would have 
better served the purpose. With all 
his strength of will, with all his skill in 
the adaptation of his tones, and all his 
fiery determination of drawing, he has 
been unable to conquer a right to fill 
such spaces with such work. It is a 
waste of great resources. " The writer 
then proceeds to consider these works 
of art simply as pictures, and says : 

"The artist has symbolized the simultaneous 
occurrence of the revival of letters and the dis- 
covery of America by the allegories of the Flight 
of Night and the Discoverer. The former has 
in its elements long been familiar to those who 
frequented Mr. Hunt's studio. It is, in fact, a 
flying cloud, the substance and movement of 
which is figured by the suggestion of an aerial 
chariot drawn by three plunging steeds, to the 
mane of one of which clings a torch-bearing 
groom rather guiding than restraining the 
downward flight. High upon the cloudy seat 
sits a female figure, directing the vision with a 
gesture of her hand; and below, inveloped in a 
shadowy fold of fleecy drapery dimly portrayed, 
is a sleeping woman with a child, and over her 
hovers a little protecting spirit. The visionary 
character of the composition is unencumbered 
by any material appliance. There are no reins, 
no harness, no chariot, no wheels. It is a pre- 
cipitous movement of vapor poetically set forth 
with a superb flight of horses, and enough of 
human interest in the figure to suggest a mean- 
ing which each can interpret in his own way. 
It is a very fine point in the sentiment of the 
picture that the allegory is not forced upon the 
spectator by the insistence of vulgar acces- 
sories. The horses are drawn with magnficent 
spirit, and with the confidence and elati of a 



master. The human figures are little more 
than suggestive; they are fleeting visions — a 
part of a cloudy pageant. When illuminated 
by bright sunlight, or by the artificial lighting 
of the chamber at night, the vigorous mechan- 
ism of outline and color which are contrived to 
produce an effect, are somewhat unpleasantly 
betrayed. In the half light of the afternoon, 
the very qualities which are crudities, at other 
times, contribute to make up a pictorial har- 
mony of the most effective and poetic kind. 

"The same may be said with even greater 
force of the Discoverer. A Hamlet-like man,^ 
in armor and cloak, stands conspicuous in a 
boat, riding half disclosed on a billowy swell of 
the ocean. Behind him, at the helm and hold- 
ing a bellying sail of drapery, stands a winged 
female figure in an attitude of dignity somewhat 
like that suggested by the Venus of Milo; and 
upon the prow, with her outlines defined against 
a bright rift in the western sky, leans a spirit 
of the water, with a frank, onward look and a 
gesture significant of confident hope. This 
figure seems to us the best in the group; it is 
beautifully drawn, and plays a happy part in 
the composition. Two other female figures 
float upon the waves. We have thus Fortune 
at the helm, and Hope at the prow. The 
guide-book shall interpret the rest of the alle- 
gory, which, to us, as compared with that 
portrayed on the opposite wall, is wanting in 
significance, and made up of too many elements 
and of too much of materialism to leave upon 
the mind a concrete poetic image. The com- 
position IS wanting in simplicity, and the effect 
of the whole depends upon a momentary inci- 
dent; the next instant of time beyond that 
depicted, the next wash of the uncertain bil- 
lows, will evidently throw the whole group 
into confusion. This impending catastrophe 
seems in some way to detract from the dignity 
of the allegory. The masters of the Renais- 
sance, when they chose a sea pomp for their 
subjects, such as the Triumph of Galetea, the 
Rape of Europa, and the Venus Anadyomene 
managed to spare us from doubts of this kind 
by a more multitudinous grouping of figures 
capable of falling into new combinations with- 
out loss of harmony. But Mr. Hunt's 
allegory is disjointed, and appears to need 
some harmonizing element to give us that feel- 
ing of security which accompanies the floating 
and flying groups of Guido, Rubens, and Anni- 
bale Caracci. The idea of the Flight of Night 
is in this respect, admirable; in a moment the 
cloudy vision will have departed, leaving a 
serene sky, and space for all the succeeding 
pageants of civilization." 

We are told, since Mr. Hunt's mel- 
ancholy death on the Isles of Shoals, 
that the fifty-five days devoted by him- 
self and assistant to the painting of 
these pictures, by no means represented 
all the labor bestowed upon them. 



38 

The Discoverer was first drawn in char- for an easel picture. After accepting 
coal in the year 1857. The Flight of the commission, Mr. Hunt's preparatory 
Night had been put on paper ten years work in his studio in Boston was of 
earlier, and had been designed simply nearly five months' duration. For the 

FHght of Night, the heads 
of the horses, their legs 
and feet were all freshly 
painted from life. The 
Queen was painted from a 
life model. Sleep and the 
child were painted from 
life, also the dusky guide. 
For the other picture, the 
Discoverer, Science, Hope 
and Fortune, were painted 
from life models. The heads, 
hands and arms of these 
figures were also drawn and 
colored as separate studies. 
In all, 30 or more careful 
charcoal drawings and more 
than twelve pastels were 
made, besides 19 Complete 
copies in oil, 17, 12 inches 
by 30, and two, 6 feet by 8. 
The work itself had to be 
done by a specified time, 
and this involved much anx- 
iety. Each morning the 
artist and his assistant were 
up to catch from the rising 
sun a fresh impression to 
carry to the work upon the 
Plight of Night. Every even- 
ing they watched the waning 
daylight, and noted the ef; 
feet of figures and objects 
against the setting sun, as a 
study for the Discoverer. 
Later on in the work, Mr. 
Hunt obtained from his as- 
sistant a solemn promise 
that if their effort proved a 
failure, he would paint out 
both pictures in a single 
night. (See Atlantic Month- 
ly for July, 1880.) 

The South Side Corri- 
dors. — ^The executive cham- 
bers, or the Governor's 




39 



rooms, are in the southeast corner on 
the second or entrance floor. On the 
way to this portion of the Capitol one 
is struck by two very important dififer- 
ences in construction between the 
southern corridors and the correspond- 
ing passages on the north side of the 
building. These differences consist in 
the use of colored marbles here for 
wainscoting, and in the admission of 
light by windows rising from the top of 
the wainscot above the level of the eye, 
and surrounding the doors leading into 
the various committee rooms that re- 
ceive direct light. The effect of the 
wainscot is of great richness and var- 
iety, and it also seems substantial and 
enduring. The richness and variety of 
color is truly wonderful, and it contains 
in low tones more combinations 
than the most eleborate palettes of 
a painter could reach in a lifetime. 
The most prominent tints are shades 
and hues of red, and these are relieved 
by numberless colder tones, grays and 
browns predominating. The marble 
has been selected with a harmonious 
scale of color, and is put together in 
simple slabs, the joining edges of 
which are beveled perpendicularly and 
are held in place by a slightly convex 
string mould ng and a cap of brown 
stone, which, where they abut upon 
the doors, are daintily carved into ter- 
minal bosses, while the whole rests 
upon a moulded base of brown stone. 
This wainscot is more pleasing than 
any combination of tiles could be, but 
its effect would be entirely thrown away 
were in not for the means adopted for 
lighting the corridors through the win- 
dows mentioned above. 

The Governor's Room is 60 feet 
long by 40 wide; the walls are wain- 
scoted to a height of 15 or 16 feet with 
mahogany, arranged in square panels 
surmounted with a band of carving and 
a carved moulding above. The space 
between this and the ceiling of maho- 
gany is covered with hangings of 



Spanish leather, which harmonize, in 
its soft tones of golden brown and red 
and olive, with the mahogany. On 
one side of the room is an enormous 
fireplace having a shelf and several 
emblematic panels of elaborate carving 
above it. The ceiling is composed of 
beams, which divide the space into 
panels, having rails perforated in the 
form of a quatrefoil surrounding the 
panel. There are convenient arrange- 
ments to connect with the offices of the 
executive attendants and the bill room 
by small doors in the panelling, and 
altogether the room is well adapted to 
the reception of persons having busi- 
ness to transact with the Governor and 
his assistants. 

The Corridor of Columns. — As- 
cending from this floor by the com- 
m.odious and easily running elevator, 
we find ourselves in a corridor similar 
to that previously described, which 
leads into a broader one, running 
east and west along the north side of 
the Senate chamber. This last named 
corridor, which is after plans furnished 
by Mr. Eidlitz, is entirely lined and 
vaulted with sandstone, and has a row 
of columns in the centre, above which 
there is a double arched vault extending 
to either wall. Upon this spacious 
corridor open the main doors leading 
to the Senate chamber. 

The Senate Chamber, in the rich- 
ness and variety of its decoration, is 
equalled only by the famous St. Mark's 
Cathedral in Venice. Its treatment 
was assigned to Mr. Richardson, and 
of his success there can be no question. 
The space in which he had to work 
was 60 feet in breadth, nearly 100 in 
length, and about 50 in height. He has 
reduced the plan of the room to a 
nearly square forpi, cutting oft' from 
either end of it the lobbies, above 
which are placed the galleries, opening 
on the chamber proper. These lob- 
bies, opening from the corridors, are 
simple in treatment. Yet by a slight 



40 



similiarity in detail they, in a measure, 
prepare the eye for the Senate chamber 
itself. They are wainscoted with light 
marble, arranged panelwise in slabs 
and rails, and are ceiled with quartered 
oak. From the west lobby opens the 
Lieutenant-Governor's room, comfort- 
ably fitted up with a carved and pol- 
ished mahogany wainscot and fireplace. 



wall, from which the chamber is 
lighted by three large openings 
rising from a level with the floor 
and six lesser openings near the 
ceiUng. Two of the large windows 
are filled with disks of stained glass, 
which shade from browns and rubies 
near the floor through olives and golden 
hues to the semi-circular tops, which 




ARCH IN THE LOBBY. 

and an oak ceiling supported on corbels are filled with varied iridescent and 
of marble. By the arrangement of the opalescent tint. The central window 
galleries over the lobbies, the actual is obscured by the reredos behind the 
floor space of the Senate chamber president's desk, which rises to the 
proper is reduced to about 60 feet by 55. spring of the window arches but does 
Entering on this floor by the main not cover the semi-circular window- 
doorway from the vaulted corridor head, which, like the others, is filled 
above described we first see the south with many hued opalescent glass. The 



41 



stained glass has been used not only to 
add brilliancy of color, but to avoid the 
glare of light that has proved so objec- 
tionable in some of the other rooms. 
These windows are arched, and the 
stone mouldings above and below them 
are carved with intricate and delicate 
patterns of interwoven lace-like forms 
and a carved band of stone divides the 
lower part of each window from the 
semi-circular upper light. The capi- 
tals of the angle columns are more 
heavily cut into conventional forms 
taken from oak leaves and other 
foliage. The wall space between the 
windows, as far up as the spring of the 
arches, is of Knoxville (Tenn.) marble, 
a reddish gray stone, not highly pol- 
ished, though having a smooth finish. 
The Mexican Oinyx Panelling.— 
Above the three arches of the lower 
windows for about twelve feet (per- 
pendicularly) the wall is panelled 
with Mexican onyx. These panels are 
cut into slabs three feet square and are 
separated, or rather framed, by slightly 
convex rails of Sienna (Italy) marble, 
the mottled reds, yellows and browns 
of which contrast with the tints of the 
onyx. For additional support the slabs 
are backed up with slabs of ordinary 
marble. The variety of color display- 
ed in the onyx is very remarkable, 
the prevaihng tints being mottled 
and semi-translucent whites, cream 
colors, sea water, olive and ivory. 
These tints are broken and waved by 
hnes, stride and splashes of raw Sienna 
coloring, rosy brown, and numberless 
shades of other neutral browns, some 
inclining toward red and some toward 
green and even blue, while the surface 
everywhere varies in play of light and 
shade of semi-opacity and translu- 
cence. The various slabs, no two of 
which are alike, are arranged with a 
certain idea of contrast, but never 
formally nor with regularity of counter- 
change. They are laid haphazard 
with a motive. The dividing rails of 
4 



Sienna marble are of colors that har- 
monize admirably with those of the 
onyx, being principally yellows of a soft 
golden character and reddish brown 
mottled, the intensity of which is varied 
in every piece, and some times ap- 
proaches so nearly the color of an 
adjacent slab of onyx as to melt into 
it. Both panels and rails are highly 
polished. Above this panelling is a 
string course of simply carved marble, 
and above this is the upper tier of win- 
dows, six in number. The shape and 
treatment are similar to those of the 
lower windows. 

The Golden Frieze. — The wail 
space above these windows is filled in 
with lead, heavily gilt, constituting a 
sort of frieze. The ornament of this 
is a carefully studied design of arab- 
esque or floral pattern, beaten out or 
embossed by means of hammers, 
stamps and dies of various sizes and 
shapes, thus affording a varied play of 
light and shade on the gilt surface. 
This field of gold, being absolutely 
neutral, adapts itself to the color of the 
surrounding objects, and in the eleva- 
tion and depression of its beaten and 
stamped surface supplies the compli- 
mentary colors necessary to complete 
the color harmony of the whole cham- 
ber. 

The Oak Ceiling. — Above the 
broad frieze of beaten gold and termi- 
nating the wall are the massive carved 
beams of oak, more than four feet in 
depth, which constitute the framework 
of the ceiling. These great beams are 
supported on stone corbels sunk into 
the walls and projecting under the 
beams. The corbels are carved 
into bold and vigorous forms derived 
from foUage and flowers. The main 
beams divide the ceiling mto long, nar- 
row, rectangular spaces running from 
east and west, and these spaces are 
divided into lesser rectangular spaces 
running north and south, which are 
again divided in half by smaller beams 



42 









f=«=s— as 






\ r 




' ( 





and form squares,which 
are still further divided 
by rails into four square 
panels each. It is the 
intention of the archi- 
tect to treat these 
groups of four panels 
with color, so that every 
group of four shall 
count as a whole. This 
treatment of the ceil- 
ing was adopted for two 
reasons, which are, that 
such a large room need- 
ed a ceiling composed 
of enormous masses or 
material in order that 
it might be in scale with 
the rest of the work in 
the room, and in order 
that the sound waves 
which ascend from the 
speakers might be 
broken and lost among 
the beams instead of 
being reverberated and 
reflected in the form of 
an echo to annoy audi- 
tors. The eye is easily 
carried to the western 
wall/ by the upper por- 
tion of wall space, 
which is decorated by 
the beaten frieze of 
gold. On this side again 
is the lower wall space 
of Knoxville marble. It 
appears, however, in 
greater mass than on 
the south side of the 
room, being only brok- 
en by the two doors of 
the lobby. Disposed 
in large blocks and un- 
carved, this marble pre- 
sents an appearance of 
solidity and strength 
very necessary to a 
room of great size, and 
affords a powerful un- 



DORMER, COURT SIDE. 




■mmi"m^mm 



44 



derstructure for the support of the 
heavy columns and arches above. 
Although this surface is much hidden 
by the high-backed settees that line 
almost the entire wall of the room, 
enough shows through to give an im- 
impression of solidity and strength of 
construction. Above this lower wall of 
marble are three great arched spaces, 
occupying nearly the whole width of 
the wall and disclosing the galleries. 
These arches are supported by four 



say that the arches in the Senate cham- 
ber seemed to me, as far as their gen- 
eral conception goes, worthy to stand 
at Ragusa, some will understand that I 
can say no more." 

Between the columns the galleries 
bow out slightly, giving the effect of 
balconies, and are protected by a balus- 
trade composed of columnar balusters 
of Sienna marble and rails of gray 
marble, the projections of the galleries 
being supported by long, flat corbels 




A CLUSTERED PIER. 



massive columns of a dark, red-brown 
granite, uith capitals of whitish marble, 
elaborately carved. The arches them- 
selves are of the yellow Sienna marble, 
with both inner and outer mouldings 
carved. Of these arches Edward A. 
Freeman remarks; 

" There are parts [of the building] 
which I cannot at all admire, but there 
are other parts, those in which the 
columns and round arches are em- 
ployed, which certainly pleased me as 
much as any modern building that I 
have seen for a long time. When I 



of gray stone, elaborately carved. The 
wall is thus divided into three spaces — 
the marble foundation wall, the arched 
space giving on the galleries, and the 
space for the gold frieze. The frieze 
space again carries the eye to the north 
wall, where it is shown in its greatest 
mass. Appearing on the south wall in 
a small strip above the arches of 
the upper tier of windows, and in 
rather greater mass on the west wall, 
it shows itself here in a broad, un- 
broken surface equal to more than 
one-third of the whole wall surface. 



45 



The value of this arrangement will be 
seen at a glance, for the gold surface, 
catching the light of the upper win- 
dows directly opposite, reflects it over 
the room. 

Half way between the east and west 
walls is the main entrance of the corri- 
dor, and on either side of the main en- 
trance are two great open fireplaces 




SCALE OF »CET 



PLAN OF ASSEMBLY CHAMBER 

jutting out into the room. The door- 
way and fireplaces are constructed of 
marble, as is the space between them. 
The openings of the fireplaces are 
about six feet in height and something 



more in breadth. The cheerful effect 
of these, when filled with blazing logs, 
the flames of which are reflected on 
the polished onyx and marble from all 
sides of the room, may well be im- 
agined. Above the fire openings are 
to be carved legends or symbolical 
devices. Above these are the broad 
faces of the chimney breasts, which 
are to be cut in bas-relief 
with representations of his- 
torical or legendary scenes, 
emblematical of, or illustra- 
ting the legislative character 
of the room. The chimney 
pieces are finished with and 
surmounted by hoods slant- 
ing back to the wall at a 
steep angle and ornamented 
with crockets and carved 
bands. The whole chimney 
pieces are about half as high 
as the room, reaching to the 
string course below the gold 
frieze. Above the doorway 
and wall space of Knoxville 
marble we see the wall space 
up to the frieze covered with 
the Mexican onyx panel, 
and like the frieze, in greater 
extent of surface than else- 
where. So placed these two 
great fields of onyx and gold 
catch the broad southern 
light and afford a great diver- 
sity in the play of color, and 
offer the necessary repose to 
the eye after looking at sur- 
faces broken by the arches 
of the windows on the south, 
east and west walls. Above 
the onyx and enclosed within 
y ly the frieze is a long rectangu- 
lar space, which may be filled 
in with mural painting of 
some allegorical subject fitted to the 
place. 

- The Chandeliers and Side 
Lights.— Hanging directly in front 
of each of the arches opening upon 



47 



the galleries is a large and carefully 
wrought chandelier made of bronze in 
the corona form. The corona is a 
broad, circular band of metal cut and 
bent on the upper and lower edges 
and having repousse and cut bosses at 
intervals. Around this band are the 
burners. It is suspended from the 
ceiling by chains composed of long 
tubes of metals alternating 
with small spheres of the 
same, to which the tubes are 
hooked, while the gas is con- 
ducted to the 
burners by a 
larger c e n - 
tral tube or- 
namented ^ 
with spheres 
and melon- 
shaped balls 
of metal. 
These sur- 
faces are pol- 
ished and the 
coronal band 
is left as it 
came from 
the hands of 
the workman with 
the hammer marks 
to soften the sur- 
face and give var- 
iety of light and 
shade. The same 
pattern of chan- 
deliers prevails 
through out the 
southern portion 
of the building. 
The side - lights 
about the room, which 
located upon the band 
viding the onyx from the gold 
above, are made from the same 
metal and are formed of a 
convex band fitted over the 
stone and having a hammered 
surface with repousse orna- 
ment, from which spring 



curved straps of metal arranged in 
a fan-like form and ending in scrolls, 
which support the gas tubing and 
the burners. 

The Court of Appeals.— Nine spa- 
cious rooms are assigned for the Court 
of Appeals, six in the third or princi- 
pal story; three in the fourth or gallery 
story, the two stories being connected 




UNDER THE LADIES' GALLERY, 



48 



by an ornamented iron staircase. The 
court room is in the southeast corner, 
over the executive chamber, and is 35 
by 53, and 25 feet high. It is finished 
in quartered red oak, timbered ceiUng 
of the same material, with carved 
beams and deep recessed panels. The 
five window openings are finished with 
Knoxville marble, the arches resting 
upon carved trusses and columns re- 
cessed into the angles formed by the 
jambs and outer belting, terminating 
in ornamental trusses. A deep carved 
wood string in line with the trusses, 
and the carved capitals of the marble 
columns divide the oak panelling on 
the w-alls into two parts. The frame 
work of the upper section is filled in 
with large plain panels, and the inten- 
tion is to decorate, by gilding, the 
rails. The panels are designed to 
be painted in varied designs to har- 
monize with the wood carving. The 
lower section below the window arches 
stands upon a moulded base and is 
filled in with double raised panels and 
subdivided longitudinally by carved 
stringcourses, containing between them 
a section of vertical fluted work in 
which are fixed at intervals in carved 
frames the portraits of the judges, 
many of which hung in the Court of 
Appeals room of the old Capitol. 

On the west side of the room is a 
Becessed fireplace of large dimensions, 
over which is displayed the arms of the 
State carved in the oaken panels of 
She mantel over the recess. The re- 
cess of the fireplace is lined with Sienna 
marble and has a bench on either side 
of the fireplace of the same material. 
The lintel over the fireplace is also 
Sienna marble richly carved and ex- 
tending across the whole recess. Rest- 
ing on the lintel is a large panel com- 
posed of several choice specimens of 
Mexican onyx skillfully arranged. 

The judges' bench has been care- 
fully designed in style and form to suit 
Sae requirements and wishes of that 



honorable body. The front is divided 
into panels set in framework; the 
panels are exquisitely carved in varied 
designs and separated by ornamental 
balusters, the whole resting on a 
moulded base. Carved in the centre 
panel are the arms of the State. There 
is a medallion convex of carved gro- 
tesque heads located along the pro- 
jecting top. Perhaps no room in the 
building is better adapted to its purpose 
than this. Four other rooms adjacent 
form a continuous suite extending 
north from the court room along the 
eastern front. A room for lawyers in 
attendance on the court of appeals is 
opposite the court room on the west 
side. 

The Southeast or Senate stair- 
case occupies a space 52 by 52, and 
114 feet high from basement bottom to 
the top of the walls. Great care was 
taken in preparing and putting down 
the footing courses that support this 
grand monumental work, and which 
are constructed of granite blocks in 
two courses, cut to straight and parallel 
thicknesses. The blocks of granite in 
the lower course are from 3 to 4 feet 
wide, 8 feet long and 2 feet thick; in 
the upper course 7 feet long, 20 inches 
thick, well bonded with the lower 
course, all of which is laid and bedded 
in Portland cement. The foundations 
from the footing course up through the 
basement are constructed of hand- 
burned brick, laid and grouted in Port- 
land cement, strengthened by broad 
skewbacks extending through the mas- 
sive walls. The pier binders and caps 
are all of well wrought granite. 

The stairs start on the ground floor 
on the south side and extend to the 
gallery story. The great platforms and 
steps are of Dorchester sandstone. 
Each story is divided into two sections 
by spacious intermediate platforms mid- 
way in each story, extending the whole 
distance between the north and south 
walls a distance of 50 feet by 12 feet 



.s^:^ 



/#i#tti»Vii(''"'"'' ' 



\ 




WEST END ASSEMBLY CHAMBER. 



50 



wide. The stairs are of easy ascent 
and grand and dignified in appearance. 
The upper landings of the stairs on 
each story are on platforms extending 
the whole length between walls by 14 
feet wide, resting on the walls at either 
end and supported at the cross joints 
by massive moulded granite girders. 



entrance and main stories is pro- 
vided with balconies, the platforms 
placed on a level with the tiled floors 
of the corridors adjoining. These bal- 
conies serve both as useful and orna- 
mental features, and are approached 
through the openings made in the east 
wall as heretofore described. Each of 




NORTH VIEW OF THE CAPITOL. 



The west walls on the ground and en- 
trance stories form a continuous line 
of niches, divided by piers and col- 
umns, embellished with moulded bases 
and carved caps. The west wall in 
each of the four stories is pierced by 
large openings through which light is 
admitted to the staircase from the 
court. The eastern wall in the 



the elevations on the east and west 
sides of the wall, the bases of which 
are on a level with the floors in the 
various stories and intermediate plat- 
forms, is divided into five openings by 
piers with columns recessed into the 
angles of the same, embellished with 
highly ornamental carved foliated caps 
of varied designs, in which are intro- 



duced allegorical figures of various 
forms, carefully studied and exquisitely 
executed from drawings. The open- 
ings are spanned by pointed arches, 
the two outer arches extending over 
the steps. The faces of piers and 



arches are decorated by incised orna- 
ments, the underside of arches by flow- 
ing lines of tracery terminating in gro- 
tesque heads and figures. The north 
and south sides of the well are each 
divided into two openings, which are 




DOWN ASSF.MBLY STAIRCASE. 



spanned by arches 
springing from the 
massive piers at the 
ground floor, up to and against 
the piers resting upon the caps 
of the centre columns, from 
which the upper span of arches 
spring to and against the piers 



52 



of the various landings. These arches 
are constructed at an angle conforming 
to the angles of the steps and support- 
ing the same. The vertical faces and 
soffits are decorated in a similar manner 
as the arches heretofore described, with 
the exception of the lower section in 
which spandrels are formed, tilled in 
with geometrical tracery. 

Resting on the arches continuing up 
the steps and forming the coping over 
the same is a moulded string course, 
up the face of which is a deeply re- 
cessed and richly carved decoration. 
This coping and decoration extends 
along a level with all the platforms, 
and is divided by the piers at the 
angles. The coping, up the steps and 
along the platforms, is surmounted by 
a beautiful balustrade worked in geo- 
metrical figures and foliage ornaments, 
on which rests a heavy moulded hand- 
rail. Richly carved mouldings extend 
along the underside of the platforms 
and up the soffits of the stairs next to 
the outer walls. The base and wain- 
scoting along the platforms and upon 
a parallel line with the stairs on the 
outer walls are also executed in geo- 
metrical figures, surmounted by a 
moulded capping. All the outer walls 
from the ground floor to the underside 
of the skylight are faced with sand- 
stone ashlar, surmounted by an enriched 
stone cornice, on which rests the iron 
construction supporting the skylight. 
This great monumental work is believed 
to be without parallel on the face of 
the globe. 

Military Statistics, The Bureau 
OF, is on the fourth or gallery floor, 
west end, south side, and is open to 
visitors daily from 9 A. M. till 5 
p. M. This collection grew out of a 
desire to perpetuate in some way the 
patriotic memories of the war of the 
rebellion. It was at first proposed to 
e-ect a suitable building for the pur- 
pose, and over $30,000 was subscribed 
by towns and by individuals. This 



money is noM' on deposit, and the in- 
terest helps to support the bureau, 
which is under the charge of the ad- 
jutant-general. 

The objects of greatest interest are 
the battle flags of the various State 
regiments, 804 in number, some of 
them torn in shreds, others still bearing 
plainly the names of the battles in 
which the regiments participated. 
These are in cases in the senate gallery 
corridor. There are 28 rebel ensigns 
captured from the enemy, and many 
other trophies to interest the curious. 
Over 3,000 photographs have been col- 
lected, and many are framed and on 
exhibition. There is also a large col- 
lection of newspapers in which the 
history of the war was written in the 
time of it; many specimens of ord- 
nance ; some relics of the revolutionary 
war and of the war of 181 2; an inter- 
esting collection of Lincoln memorials, 
including a piece of the bloody shirt 
taken from his person on the night of 
the assassination. 

Another interesting group is the 
clothes worn by Col. Ellsworth when 
he was shot down in Alexandria, and 
the rebel flag which he took from the 
Marshall House, an act which led to 
his untimely death. 

The Heating Apparatus for the 
whole building is placed under the 
central court, in the cellar, where are 
two batteries of six steel boilers each or 
twelve in all, aggregating 650 horse 
power.* There are two principal heat- 
ing chambers, containing together 60,- 
000 square feet of heating surface; two 
engines, with an automatic cut-off gear, 
of 200-horse power each, with connec- 
tions so that either or both can be used; 
two large steam pumps for the ele- 
vators and two feed pumps. The 
engines furnish power to four ventil- 



* The boilers will eventually be removed to 
a separate building. A bill for that purpose is 
now pending (.April, 1884) in the legislature. 



53 

ating fans of a united capacity of 220,- five feet by seventeen feet in dimen- 
000 cubic feet of fresh air per minute, sions. These slabs alone are nearly 
There is also an exhaust fan, which sufficient to maintain the temperature 
forces out foul air from the flues that of the rooms. As the supply of air is 
do not have a natural draught, which constant, means are provided for reg- 
has a capacity of 90,000 cubic feet per unlating its temperature, to prevent 
minute. Of the supply fans, one is for over-heating. This is done precisely 
the Senate, 20,000; one for the Assem- as water is tempered for a bath, and it 
b^y> 33)000; one for rhe north side, is not often that air is supplied over 
35,000, and one for the bouth side and eight) degrees except for rapid heating 

up. The entire air sup- 
ply to the Senate chamber 
IS through registers in the 
floor and concealed open- 
ings in the bases of the 
furniture. In both Senate 
and Assembly the remov- 
al of foul air is from the 
top of the room, and the 
quantity of fresh air sup- 
^\'^iJ^^<^^^^^l^^'^^^IW^^'S9^^ni^^^i(^^^^^^ P^i^*^ P^'^ person, inclu- 
''^^^^^^J^t^^vC^ wkr^^^l^JrmK^^X^^St^ *-^^"S ^^^ possible occu- 
t^ i*^i»i,~^vjU^l|^Uj^^ pants of the galleries, is 

^\ \j%j^ ll'Bw f|i^^ up to the standard re- 

^^^ *^^^^^^^iB:^^^^^^ quired by the best author- 

ities, while all members 

mpillllllllH^^^U'llfl^^^HW^ ^^^ officers present have 
1 11 1 iRMBnRlllill^^HIIIII'^^^^H a much more liberal sup- 

ply. The apparatus for 
furnishing the electric 
hght is also in the cellar. 

_^„__ Cost Thus Far. — The 

'''^'ll^tiiPJIIIJjjjjjj^^BH^HiH^ following figures taken 

from the books of the 
comptroller show the 
amounts actually paid 
each year by the State 

C XV OF LARGF COLLMN, ASSEMBLY ROOM. ^^^^^j, ^^e building of 

wings, 132,000. These quantities are the Capitol, the fiscal year ending 

capable of being increased by a greater September i . 

speed of the engines, which is sixty 1353 ^51.593 66 

revolutions per minute. Besides the 1864 9.453 55 

main heating chambers, where the 1865 10,86008 

entire air is warmed, at each window, 1866 65,250 00 

in the floor is a marble slab, seven feet 1867 10,000 00 

long and two feet wide, heated by 1868 50,000 00 

steam pipes beneath it. These merely 1869 451,21563 

neutraUze the effect of the large cool- 1870 1,223,597 73 

ing surfaces of the windows, which are 1871 482,942 37 




54 

1872 856,106 98 with stone. The interior will be ap- 

1873 1,175,600 00 proached from the eastern end, and at 

1874 610,275 16 the sides by broad granite steps and 

1875 1,392,71208 platforms flanked by granite but- 

1876 908,487 92 tresses. Broad and easy stairs are 

1877 728,220 20 provided for, extending from the pave- 

1878 1,075,700 00 ment to the ground and entrance stories 

1879 982,836 44 which are also accessible from a cover- 

1880 1,008,363 56 ed carriageway extending transversely 

1881 1,350,600 00 through the structure near the building. 

1882 1,210,600 00 The grand western staircase is located 

1883 1,274,357 72 in the centre, extending east from the 

great reading room of the library to 

^14,928,773 08 the main court wall, 71 feet by 52 feet, 

— and connects with corridors running 

north and south, and with all the rooms 

This includes the cost of the land in the several stories. It will, in some 
with the exception of what was given respects, be the grandest staircase of 
by the city of Albany ($190,000). the three. The state hbrary will be in 
The latest estimate as to what it will the west end. It will be in keeping 
cost to finish the building is between with the rest of the building. 
four and five millions. 

No one now imagines ^^S^^^;;r!!r**^i»^ v- 

that it will cost, in all, 
less than $20,000,000, ^^'.^i 

Work yet to be '"" ; ^ 
Done. — The important Jte'-^ z' 
features of the work yet |^&^j<|^\ 

to be done are the east- w^M»iB^BK^Bi^^BHBMH^^^^^^^H^Klt'. 
ern approaches, the west- 
ern staircase, the state 
library and the tower. '^ ^^ ^^^^BB^^^^^^^^^H^^^i^^4^HR\ 

The eastern approach will 
be of granite, semi-circular ,,11,5,,, 

in form at the eastern en*^. 

It will consist of a series of ^^ "^-^'^^IP^^^B^^^SB^^^^HI^'^^ 
grouped granite columns \\ ith en- ^^ ' '"* ' 
riched caps and moulded bases resting 1 

upon foundations constructed of cut ^ "tfe-^'^"-*^^ 

stone. The basement ceiling will be ^ •• /^^^^nf^^^^^**^!^^^ ~ j ^'^>' 

of brick arches springing from stone ^ v^ vlfeBfe^^P'^ 

skewbacks and covered with stone ^ ^^*^^?^^^E*^!*^s 

flags. Resting upon the outer columns ' t>r J^^-^^^-^**^ ^' 

will be an entablature over which there 'V.^^* ^ "" 

is designed to be an open parapet. To 
form the ceiling of this structure there 
will be a series of groined arches con- 

structed of granite, and over the whole ' ^^^ 

surface a layer of asphalt. The top 
surface of the structure will be paved griffin on fire-place. 




55 
DIRECTORY. 



Rooms in the Capitol are occupied as follows : 



FIRST OR GROUND FLOOR. 



North "^vd^ — East End. 
Superintendent of Public Works. 
Railroad Commission. 
Superintendent of State Buildings. 
Assembly Committee Rooms. 
Entrance to Assembly Staircase. 
Storekeeper's Room. 

West End. 
Assembly Committee Rooms. 
State Survey. 
Entrance to Elevator. 



South Side — ^aj^ End. 
Insurance Department. 
Superintendent State Prisons. 
Entrance to Elevator. 

West End. 
Department of Public Instruction. 
Senate Committee Rooms. 
Store Rooms. 



SECOND OR ENTRANCE FLOOR. 



North Side — East End. 
Secretary of State. 
Assembly Staircase. 
Old Court of Appeals. 
Entrance to Elevator. 

West End. 
Court of Claims. 
BureaH of Labor Statistics. 
Entrance to Elevator. 
Golden Corridor. 



SoiTTH ?i\V)^ — East End. 
Executive Chamber. 
Entrance to Elevator. 
Inspector-General. 
Vital Statistics. 
Board of Health. 
Adjutant-General. 
Paymaster-General . 

West End. 
Attorney-General. 



THIRD OR PRINCIPAL FLOOR. 



North Side — East End. 
Assembly Parlor. 

" Document Room. 

" Postoffice. 

" Cloak Room, 

" Chamber. 

Entrance to Elevator. 

West End. 
Assembly Clerk. 
Speaker of Assembly. 
Assembly Library. 
Entrance to Elevator. 



South Side — EastEnd. 
Court of Appeals. 
Senate Chamber. 

" Clerk. 
Entrance to Elevator. 

West End. 
Senate Cloak Room. 

" Postoffice. 
Reporters' Cloak Room. 
Senate Library. 



FOURTH OR GALLERY FLOOR. 



North Side — East End. 
Committee Rooms. 
State Entomologist. 
Assembly Gallery (Gentlemen.) 
Entrance to Elevator. 

West End. 
Adirondack Survey. 
Assembly Gallery (Ladies.) 
Committee Rooms. 
Entrance to Elevator. 



South Side — East End. 
Senate Gallery (Ladies.) 
Committee Rooms. 
Entrance to Elevator. 

West End. 
Bureau Military Statistics. 
Committee Rooms. 
Senate Gallery (Gentlemen.) 



56 



The Capitol of the state of New 
York, is, in fact, a building of which 
any empire or kingdom in the world 
might be proud. It is true the legisla- 
ture might have deliberated in halls 
that would not have cost a tenth part 
as much as these have done; but the 
capitol of such a state should mean 
something more than mere rooms in 
which laws are made and mended. It 
should be, as this is, a grand monu- 
ment to the spirit of progress and civ- 
ilization. 



And the influence of such an edi- 
fice is not confined by the boundaries 
of states or countries. The fine arts 
everywhere are stimulated and strength- 
ened by such a structure. 

As Clarence Cook says : 

" There is nothing like a great architectual 
undertaking, with its implied accompaniment of 
sculpture and painting, to create a love of art 
in a community, and New York has the proud 
distinction of being first of the States of the 
Union to have lighted in her capitol a beacon 
fire that shall call all the arts together and set 
them at work in noble tasks for her behoof." 




A DREAM OF THE NEW ALBANY. 



57 



CAT 



Catholics. — The Catholic diocese of 
Albany extends from the southern 
limits of Jefferson Co. to the Pennsyl- 
vania hne, and from Auburn eastward 
to Vermont and Massachusetts, em- 
bracing twenty counties, and an esti- 
mated Catholic population of about 
i6o,cxK). The diocesan officials are as 
follows : Bishop, Rt. Rev. Francis 
McNeirny, Bishop's house, 225 Mad- 
ison ave., Albany; vicar general. 
Very Rev. P. A. Ludden, St. Peter's, 
Troy; chancellor and sec. Rev. John 
Walsh, 12 Madison place, Albany; 
auditor of diocesan accounts. Rev. G. 
Huberdault, Church of the Assumption, 
Hamilton St., Albany. 

Diocesan Statistics. — Churches 
with resident pastors, 125; churches 
without resident pastors, 50; total, 175; 
chapels, 30; stations, 122; priests, 191 ; 
clerical students, 27; academies and 
select schools, 19; orphan asylums, 11 ; 
homes for the aged, 4; hospitals, 4; 
religious communities, of men, 6, of 
women, 11. 

City Statistics. — Churches, 12; 
priests, 25; schools, select and parish, 
20; religiouses, male and female de- 
voted to educational and charitable 
work, 235; pupils attending Catholic 
schools, 3,920; Catholic population, 
(as estimated by church officials) about 
40,000. 

Churches. 

The first Catholic chapel erected in 
this city was built in 1797-8 (the city 
giving the land) on the site of the 
present St. Mary's church. Lodge St., 
cor. of Pine. It was of brick, and 'for 
thirty years was the only Catholic place 
of worship in Albany. 

Cathedral of the Immaculate 
Conception, Eagle st., cor. Madison 
ave, Rt. Rev. Francis McNeirny, 
D. D., Bishop of Albany. Rev. John 
Walsh, Rector and Chancellor; Revs. 
John J. Hanlon and Richard H. Gahan 
assistants. 

This magnificent edifice is pointed 
5 



Gothic in style; has a frontage of 95 
feet on Eagle st. and a depth of 195 
feet on Madison ave. and Jefferson st. 
From the sidewalk to the apex of the 
roof its height is 70 feet, and to the 
top of spire 210 feet. Its interior 
measurement is, nave, 125 feet; tran- 
sept, 96 feet; sanctuary, 35 feet square; 
height of ceiling about 54 feet. Twelve 
massive columns support its roof, and 
light is admitted through 32 stained- 
glass windows of much beauty, the one 
at the back of the chancel costing 
more than $3,000. It tells, in a series 




catholic cathedral. 

of finely-wrought pictures, the story of 
the Virgin Mary. There are five 
altars adorned with statuary and en- 
riched with relics. 

The corner-stone was laid July 2, 
1848, by Archbishop Hughes, and the 
church dedicated by the same prelate, 
Nov. 21, 1852. It has a seating ca- 



CAT 



58 



pacity of 2,500, but 4,000 people often 
congregate within its walls. Cost, 
about ^180,000. Architect, Patrick 
C. Keeley. It is always open, and is visit- 
ed by hundreds of strangers yearly. The 
imposing rituals of the Catholic church 
are observed with magnificence, and 
the ceremonies are often witnessed by 
many who are not of the faith, but who 
are attracted by the pomp and splen- 
dor of the scene and the grandeur of 
the music. On Sundays, low mass at 
7 and 8 A. M.; high mass at 10:30; 
and vespers, in the winter, at 3 P. M.; 
in the summer at 3 .-30. 

In 1882, the interior was renewed 
and many improvements added at a 
cost of several thousand dollars. The 
stately gas standards, rich altar and 
mural decorations, and the fourteen 
Stations of the Cross magnificently 
painted by A. Ertle, of New York, 
brighten and enrich the reverent so- 
lemnity of this superb Cathedral. 
Solemn services of re-dedication were 
held on Oct. 8, 1882, at which Bishop 
McNeirny officiated, and Bishop Wad- 
hams, of Ogdensburgh preached. 

Charles Makay, the English author, 
speaking of his visit to this country in 
1858, said of this Cathedral: "It is 
internally one of the largest and most 
magnificent ecclesiastical edifices in 
America. Here high mass is sometimes 
performed with a splendor and com- 
pleteness, orchestral and vocal, not to 
be excelled even in Paris or Vienna, 
and to which London, as far as I 
know, can make no pretensions." The 
organ, built by Erben, cost ^8,000, and 
has 2,166 pipes, six of which are 16 
feet long. In 1882 extensive improve- 
ments were made, almost doubling its 
capacity, and makmg it one of the 
sweetest and most complete in the 
country. There is also a fine chime of 
bells. 

The first bishop of Albany was Rt. 
Rev. John McCloskey, (now Cardinal) 
who was installed Sept. 19, 1847; the 



second, Rt. Rev. John J. Conroy, in- 
stalled Oct. 15, 1865; and the third 
and present, Rt. Rev. Francis Mc- 
Neirny, D. D., consecrated April 21. 
1872. 

St. Joseph's. — Ten Broeck cor. 
Second st. Rev. T. M. A. Burke, 
pastor; Rev. Messrs. Maurice Sheehan, 
John F. Howard and Joseph H. 
Mangan, assistants. This church, 
though designed by the same architect 
as the Cathedral, is strikingly different 
in its general effect, each being con- 
sidered a master-piece in its own way; 
one being sombre, heavy and majestic, 
and answering the popular idea of a 
cathedral; the other, light, ornate and 
graceful, conveying an immediate im- 
pression of the chaste and beautiful in 
architecture. The dimensions are 
nearly the same. St. Joseph's was 
originally trimmed with Caen stone 
brought from France, but this crumbled 
away, and has been replaced by more 
durable material. The church, which 
was five years in building, was conse- 
crated May 13, i860. It was in this 
edifice that Emma La Jeunesse, now 
the world-renowned Albani, sang and 
officiated as organist while living in the 
city from which she took her name. 

St Mary's Church. — Lodge cor. 
Pine St. Rev. C. A. Walworth, pas- 
tor; Rev. Messrs. P. H. McDermott, 
John J. Dillon, assistants. This M'as 
the first Cathohc parish in the city, the 
trustees having been incorporated Oct. 
6, 1796, and the first building erected 
during the two years following; the 
second was erected in 1830; the third 
and present one in 1867-9. Seating 
capacity, 1,000. 

St. Ann's. — Fourth ave. cor. Frank- 
lin St. Rev. Edward A. Terry, pastor. 
Consecrated Dec. 20, 1868. 

St. John's. — South Ferry cor. Dal- 
lius. Rev. James M. Ludden, pastor; 
Revs. James P. Halpin, John McGraw, 
assistants. The second oldest Catholic 
parish in the city. 



59 



CAT— CEN 



St. Patrick's. — Central ave. cor. 
Perry St. Rev. P. J. Smith, pastor; 
Rev. James L. Walsh, assistant. Cor- 
ner-stone laid Dec. 21, 1866. Church 
consecrated Ang. 30, 1868. 

Our Lady of Ancels (German). — 
Central ave. cor. Robin st. Rev. Caesar 
Cucchiarini, pastor; Revs. Anselm 
Auling, Otto Keegan, assistants. Cor- 
ner-stone laid Nov. 29, 1868. 



States. It was, in its infancy, located at 
"Gallup's," on Washington ave., north 
side, between Swan and Lark sts., 
afterwards at the old "Bull's Head" on 
the Troy road, and then at Hunter & 
Gallup's, at the end of what is now 
Central ave. About 18 years ago the 
business was removed to its present 
location at West Albany, just north of 
the Central railroad track, where large 



Church of the Holy Cross (Ger- sheds and buildings were erected for 



man). — Hamilton st. cor. Philip. Rev. 
Joseph Ottenhues, pastor. Corner- 
stone laid May 12, 1850. 

Our Lady Help of Christians 
(German).— 72 Second ave. Very 
Rev. Mgr. Cliiver, pastor. Corner-stone 
laid June 27, 1880. 

Church of the Assumption. — 
Hamilton below Grand. Rev. Gideon 
Huberdault, pastor. Formerly used by 
the African Baptists; bought by the 
French Catholics, and consecrated 
Dec. 12. 1869. 

Church of the Sacred Heart. — 
Walter st. cor. N. Second, at N. Al- 
bany. Parish founded Aug. 5. 1874; 
Rev. F. J. Maguire, pastor. The tirst 
service in the chapel on Erie st. was 
held Aug. 16. Ground was broken for 
the erection of the present church 
July 31, 1876; the excavations for the 
church were made by members of the 
congregation evenings, after the regu- 
lar labors of the day were done. Cor- 
ner-stone laid Aug. 27, 1876; building 



dedicated May 23, i< 



Cost of 



church and parsonage. $45,000. 

Church of St. Francis de Sales, 
West Albany. Pastor, Rev. James J. 
Peyton. In process of construction. 

Cattle Market. — The stock yards 
at West Albany are reached in 45 



the accommodation and protection of 
many thousand head of stock. The 
buildings devoted to sheep and hogs 
cover an immense area of ground; are 
floored throughout, are entirely en- 
closed, well lighted, and adequately 
supplied with running water. The 
cattle yards are laid out in the lanes, 
each alley designated by a letter or 
name, and each particular yard by a 
number. Ample sheds afford protec- 
tion to the cattle, and each yard is 
provided with water. Buffalo is the 
last feeding point west of Albany, and 
stock shipped from there one day 
should reach here the next. The rules 
of the Central road require all stock 
passing forward to be unshipped here 
and fed. Sales, however, are nothing 
to what they used to be, and the recent 
custom of shipping dressed beef from 
the west has tended still further to 
lessen the importance of the market. 

Cemeteries, The, are the Rural, on 
the Troy road near West Troy; Anshe 
Emeth, (Jewish), adjoining the Rural 
on the west; St. Agnes, (Catholic), 
adjoining the Rural on the south; St. 
John's, on the Bethlehem turnpike 
below Kenwood, and St. Mary's and 
St. Joseph's on Washington ave. (See 
Rural Cemetery, St. Agnes Ceme- 



minutes from Broadway by the State and Graveyards.) 

St. horse cars, which leave on the half 

hour; or in ten minutes by trains on Census of 1880. — Following are 

the Central railroad. This, before the the census returns of 1880. (See, 

grovvthof the western country was one of also Population.) 

the largest cattle markets in the United ist Ward 5,628 



y\ 



CEN— CHR 60 

2d Ward 5j9^S 2,361 miles of track and leases 324 

3d Ward 5j089 miles more. It owns 655 locomotives, 

4th Ward 5,821 361 first-class passenger cars, 22,973 

5th Ward 4,765 freight cars; employs 15.355 persons 

6th Ward 4,171 and paid them last year ^8,401,208 in 

■7th Ward 3,522 wages. During the last railroad year 

8th Ward 4,i43 it carried 10,746,925 passengers and 

9th Ward 4,809 10,892,440 tons of freight; the average 

loth ward 6,880 rate per mile per passenger was 

I ith Ward 6,1 19 through, 2.05 cents, way, 2.04; of 

1 2th Ward 6,034 freight, per ton, per mile, .69 cents on 

13th Ward 4,623 through, .97 way. Total earnings, 

14th Ward 4,899 $33,770,721 ; charges against earnings 

15th Ward 5,097 (including an 8 per cent, dividend 

16th Ward. 7,376 amounting to $7,148,131) $33>59h^97> 

1 7th Ward 5,867 leaving a surplus of $1 79,024. 

Total 90,758 Central Avenue branches from 

Total in county 154,890 Washington ave. at Townsend park. 

Was formerly called the Bowery, and 
Central & Hudson River Rail- before the completion of the Erie 
road, New York. — Depot, north of canal was the great thoroughfare to 
Maiden Lane, near the river. This the west leading out to the Schenec- 
great corporation whose capital stock tady turnpike. Transportation of pro- 
is now about $90,000,000 is the result duce was by means of six-horse teams, 
of many consohdations. The Central which were quartered along this street, 
and Hudson River roads were con- The name was changed to Central ave. 
solidated Nov. i, 1869. The Central in 1867. The residents now are largely 
came into existence through the con- German, and one "garden " thereon is 
solidation of ten railroads between this well patronized. 
city and Buffalo, which took effect 

Aug. I, 1853. The Albany & Schen- Charter. — The original charter of 
ectady, one of these ten, was the first Albany, granted by Gov. Thomas Don- 
railroad built in the state, and was gan, and dated July 22, 1686, is depos- 
partly opened Sept. 12, 1831, under ited in the mayor's office. It is written 
name of Mohawk & Hudson, name in English, in Gothic letter on parch- 
being changed in 1847; Schenectady ment, and bears a seal, in a silver case. 
& Troy opened in 1842; Utica & The text was first printed by Hugh 
Schenectady, Aug. i, 1836; Syracuse Gaine, in 1771. The present charter 
& Utica, July 3, 1839; Auburn &Roch- forms Chap. 298 of the Laws of 1883, 
ester, in Aug. 1841; Auburn &: Syra- and was passed April 23d of that year, 
cuse, in June, 1838; the direct line See Manual of the Common Council, 
between Rochester and Syracuse, in compiled by Martin Delehanty, clerk. 
1853. The Hudson River road was 

opened from New York to East Al- Cholera raged in Albany terribly 

bany, Oct. 3, 1851. in the summer of 1832. Over 400 

The total cost of the consolidated deaths resulted, in a population of 

road and its equipment is $1 14,731,917. 30,000. 
For 295 miles between this city and 
Buffalo it has four tracks; it owns Christian Church.— Chestnut above 



6i 



CHU— CIT 



Dove. At present without a pastor, 
Rev. E. C. Abbott, who was instru- 
mental in organizing the church two 
or three years since, having resigned 
early in 1884. 

Churches. — There are between fifty 
and sixty churches in Albany, includ- 
ing five Baptists, one Congregational, 
six Episcopal, two German Evangeli- 
cal, three Jewish, five Lutheran, seven 
Methodist, eight Presbyterian, five Re- 
formed, twelve Catholic and one Christ- 
ian. Besides these, the Universal- 
ists, Second Advents, Friends and 
other sects, hold services with more or 
less regularity. The church edifices, 
taken together, are highly creditable 
to the city; the Cathedral of the Im- 
maculate Conception and St. Joseph's 
(Catholic), Emmanuel, Tabernacle, 
and Calvary (Baptist), First and Second 
Reformed, First Presbyterian and St. 
Peter's (Episcopal), being worthy of 
special note. The advance in church 
architecture in the past ten years has 
been very marked. (See different de- 
nominations.) 

Cigars. — The leading cigar manu- 
facturers in Albany are M. Strasser & 
Co., 27 Hudson ave. They are the 
makers of the brand so widely and 
favorably known as " Silk, " a most 
appropriate name, for the proverb, " As 
fine as Silk, " is in everybody's mouth, 
and so are Strasser's cigars. Noth- 
ing finer in that line is to be found, 
being celebrated for its natural aroma, 
purity, reliability and uniformity. The 
house was founded by M. Strasser, the 
senior member of the firm, in 1852. 
It now occupies a large four-story 
building in which are employed a great 
nunber of the best workmen in the 
country. No machinery is used, the 
cigars being all hand made. While 
the " Silk " is the leading brand, other 
varieties are manufactured, and the 
firm are also dealers in leaf tobacco 



which they import in large quantities. 
Their trade extends throughout the 
state of New York, and quite a ways 
into New England. They are also 
doing a large business in the west and 
their motto " for sale everywhere, " ap- 
proaches every year nearer to the literal 
truth. They have attained much of 
their success by advertising, but that is 
only one evidence of the enterprise 
that characterizes the firm in all re- 
spects. They understand their business 
perfectly, are thorough judges of the 
article in which they deal, strive always 
to keep faith with their customers and 
with the public, and by dealing hon- 
estly, manufacturing good goods, and 
keeping abreast with the times they 
have grown into a great representative 
house, of which Albany may well be 
proud. Their establishment is one 
that will be found of interest to all who 
know anything about this industry 
which plays so important a part in the 
commercial and tax-paying world. The 
number of cigars on which duty was 
paid in this internal revenue district in 
1883, was 38,063,420. 

City Building, The, occupies the 
site of the old Centre market, corner 
South Pearl and Howard sts. It was 
begun in 1868; is of the Lombardic 
style of architecture, ornamented with 
a Mansard roof, and is built of brick 
faced with Lake Champlain limestone. 
It cost the taxpayers $200,000. It 
contains the police court room; 
City court; offices of overseer of the 
poor; of the park commissioners and 
engineer; fire and police commission- 
ers; fire alarm telegraph; chiefs of the 
police and fire departments and prop- 
erty clerk; detectives; Second pre- 
cinct station house; the Rogues' Gal- 
lery, and excise commissioners. 

City Government.— Following will 
be found information in regard to the 
various city officers : 



CIT 



62 



AIayor''s Bureau. 

The Mayor's bureau consists of the 
Mayor and two clerks. 

The Mayor is the chief executive 
officer of the city, and is elected bien- 
nially on the second Tuesday in April, 
to hold office from the first Tuesday in 
May following. Annual salary, $3,500. 
When prevented from attending to the 
duties of his office, the President of 
the Board of Aldermen may act with 
full power, but can not approve ordi- 
nances, or make appointments, unless 
the Mayor is so prevented for 30 days. 
Office, City Hall; open from 10 A. M. 
to 4 p. M. The Mayor is not eligible 
for re-election till one term has inter- 
vened. He has absolute power to 
appoint corporation counsel, one as- 
sessor each year, six district physicians, 
janitor of city building, three excise 
commissioners, four bell-ringers, two 
clerks, six marshals of the city 
court, and park commissioners on 
expiration of their terms. 

Common Council. 
The Common Council is composed 
of 19 Aldermen, and exercises the 
entire legislative powers of the city. 
One Alderman is chosen from each 
ward, and two from the city at large. 
To be eligible for the office one must 
have resided in the ward at least one 
year immediately prior to his election; 
Aldermen-at-large, one year in the 
city. Aldermen are chosen biennially 
on the second Tuesday in April, to 
hold office for two years from the first 
Tuesday in May following; they elect 
a president from among their number. 
No Alderman or city officer shall be 
interested, directly or indirectly, in any 
contract with the city, nor furnish any 
goods or property to it, nor hold any 
office in the gift of the city, except in- 
spector of election and commissioner 
of deeds. Meetings are held in the 
City Hall on the first and third Mondays 
of the month, except in July and August. 



Clerk of Common Council, elected 
biennially by the Common Council; 
salary, $2,500. Office, City Hall; open 
from 9 till 12, and 2 till 5. He ap- 
points an assistant at $600. 

Finance Department. 

The Finance Department consists of 
the board of trustees of the sinking 
fund, the board of finance, the board 
of audit, chamberlain's bureau, and 
bureau of taxes. Has control of all 
fiscal concerns of the corporation. 

Trustees of Sinking Fund. — Con- 
sist of the Mayor, Chamberlain, and 
one citizen appointed (to serve three 
years) by Common Council. 

Board of Finance. — Consists of 
trustees of the sinking fund, president 
of the Common Council, and one Al- 
derman. 

Board of Audit. — Consists of the 
Mayor, Chamberlain, and president of 
the Common Council. 

Chamberlain's Bureau. The 

Chamberlain is appointed by the Com- 
mon Council on nomination by the 
Mayor, " biennially on the eve of the 
feast of St. Michael, the archangel." 
(See St. Michael's Feast.) Duties 
those of treasurer to the city; salary, 
$3,500. He appoints a deputy with 
consent of the Mayor, salary $1,500. 
Office, City Hall. 

Bureau of Taxes. — The Receiver 
of Taxes, appointed by the Mayor, 
confirmed by Board of Aldermen; sal- 
ary, $3,500; he appoints a deputy with 
approval of Mayor, salary, $1,800; 
may also appoint one or more clerks, 
at a yearly expense not toexceed$i,200 
in all. Office, City Hall. 

Street Departmetit. 

The Street Department includes four 
bureaus. 

Board of Contract and Appor- 
tionment. — Consists of the Mayor, 
Chamberlain, Street Commissioner, 
City Engineer and Surveyor, and Presi- 




A. BLEECKER BANKS.-Mayor of Albany. 



63 



CIT 



dent of the Common Council. Office 
in the City Hall (office of Street 
Commissioner); open from 9 to 5. 
Awards all contracts for opening, pav- 
ing and repairing streets, drains, re- 
pairing docks, etc., cleaning and lighting 
streets, and removing garbage. It also 
apportions and assesses the cost of street 
and drain improvements, etc., upon 
property holders. The board appoints 
a clerk; salary, $2,000, who also acts 
as clerk to the Street Commissioner. 
Regular meetings, ist and 3d Mondays 
in each month. 

Bureau of Street Improvements 
has for its chief officer the Street Com- 
missioner, appointed by the Common 
Council on nomination by the Mayor; 
salary, $3,000. The Commissioner ap- 
points two street superintendents and 
one superintendent of lamps; salary, 
$1,200 each; may also employ from 
six to ten day laborers, all with the ap- 
proval of the Mayor. He has charge 
of streets, drains and wells, and of 
lighting the city. 

Bureau of Engineering and Sur- 
veying. — Chief officer. City Engineer 
and Surveyor, appointed by the Com- 
mon Council on nomination by the 
Mayor; salary, $3,000; office, City 
Hall; deputy appointed by the Engi- 
neer; salary. Si, 800; two assistants 
appointed by the Engineer, Si, 200 each, 
all with the approval of the Mayor. 

Bureau of Lamps, Gas and Elec- 
tric Lights. — Chief officer. Street 
Commissioner, although the Superin- 
tendent of Lamps may perform all the 
duties; salary. Si, 200. 

Other Officers. 

Unless otherwise specified, appoint- 
ed biennially by the Common Council 
on nomination by the Mavor. 

The Recorder was formerly the 
representative of the Crown in the city 
government, and the office is now 
something of an anomaly. He is 
elected by the people, holds office four 



years, and receives an annual salary of 
$2,700, He has the powers of a Su- 
preme Court Judge sitting at chambers; 
holds, with a justice of the peace, the 
Court of Special Sessions; is one of 
the joint board with the Mayor and 
Supervisors in charge of the Peniten- 
tiary, and is nominally counsel for the 
Park Commissioners. 

The Corporation Counsel is ap- 
pointed biennially by the Mayor, with- 
out consent of the Common Council; 
salary, $6,000, besides being entitled to 
receive in cases in which the city is suc- 
cessful, all costs collected from the un- 
successful pnrty, returning to the city 
all such disbursements as are collected 
which the city has prepaid. He ap- 
points an assistant and pays him out of 
his own salary. 

The Law Department consists of 
the Assistant Corporation Counsel and 
the Law Committee of the Common 
Council. Office in Citv Hall. 

City Physician. — Attends the sick 
at the Alms-house. Salary, $1,200. 

District Physicians. — Six in num- 
ber, appointed by the Mayor. Salaries, 
$400. Attend the indigent and fur- 
nish them with medicine. Eirst dis- 
trict, 1st, 2d and 5th wards; second 
district, 3d and 4th wards; third dis- 
trict, Second Police precinct; fourth 
district. Third precinct; fifth district. 
Fourth precinct; sixth district, Fifth 
precinct. 

City Marshal. — Acts as sergeant- 
at-arms for the Common Council; 
serves notices of its meetings; and 
serves notices of unpaid taxes; collects 
license fees for amusements. Salary, 
$1,500. 

Janitor City Building. — Appoint- 
ed by the Mayor. Salary, $900, and 
residence in the ('ity Building. 

Inspector of Weights and Meas- 
ures. — Once in six months inspects 
weights and measures; is paid by fees 
which range from 5 cents to $1.50. 

Excise Commissioners. — Three in 



CIT 



64 



number; appointed by the Mayor; 
term of office, three years. Office in 
City Building. Annual salaries, ^1,000. 
They appoint a clerk at $1,200. 

Overseer of the Poor. — Disburses 
all the funds for the temporary relief 
and support of the indigent. Salary, 
$2,000, with $500 additional from the 
county. Office in City Building; hours 
from 9 till 12 and 2 till 5. Appoints 
his assistant with approval of Mayor; 
salary, $900. 

Alms-house Superintendent. — 
Salary, $2,500. He appoints a deputy 
with the Mayor's approval; salary, 
$1,200; clerk, $900; other assistants 
not to exceed annually $5,000. 

City Assessors. — Tnreein number; 
salary, $3,000 each. Appointed by the 
Mayor; hold office three years, one 
going out every year, first Tuesday 
in May. Office in City Hall. They 
appoint a clerk; salary, $1,000. 

Bell Ringers. — Four in number; 
appointed by the Mayor; salary, $60 a 
year. 

Commissioners of Deeds. — Nomi- 
nated jointly by Mayor and Corporation 
Counsel, and confirmed by Common 
Council; must not exceed 300 in num- 
ber; appointed for two years; all terms 
expire Jan. 10, 1885, and biennially 
thereafter. 

(See Fire Department, Police, 
Washington Park, Water-works, 
Board of Health; for list of officers, 
see Appendix.) 

City Hall, The, on Eagle st., cor. 
Maiden lane, was erected in 1 881-3 on 
the site of the old City Hall, burned 
Feb. 10, 1880. A better idea of this 
quaint-looking building can be obtain- 
ed from the frontispiece to this volume 
than from any written description. It 
was designed by H. H. Richardson, 
architect of Trinity church, Boston, and 
one of the advisory board of architects 
of the Capitol. It is built of reddish 
granite, trimmed with Long Meadow 



brown stone, and is a " free treatment 
of Gothic from the south of France." 
The tower, 202 feet, is divided into 12 
stories for storing records. The cost, 
including furnishing, etc., was $325,- 
000, of which $290,000 was obtained 
by the issue of bonds. The expense of 
construction and maintenance is borne 
half by the city and half by the coun- 
ty, rather an unfair division, the city, 
as part of the county, bearing the 
larger share of the county's half. The 
building was erected by a commission 
consisting of the mayor and the chair- 
man o f the board of supervisors, ex 
officio, Erastus Corning, C. P. Easton, 
Robert C. Pruyn, Leonard G. Hun, 
Albertus W. Becker, WiUiam Gould. 
It contains the county offices and all 
the city offices not in the City Building. 
Next to the Capitol, it is the building 
which attracts most attention. Mrs. 
Schuyler Van Rensselaer, in an article 
in the Century (May, 1884) says: 

It is a bold piece of work — unacademic, I 
dare say, and therefore displeasing to man^r 
eyes, but undeniably powerful and imposing. 
It gives us what I have heard called " a dis- 
tinct architectural emotion" (that rare thing 
with modern work!) — and not a factitious one 
either, since we like it better, I think, the more 
we look at it. Every observer may hold his 
own opinion as to the sesthetic success attained 
by the daring expedient of building the body of 
the tower of unbroken light stone and the open 
top of unbroken dark stone; but there is no 
question as to the skill with which the windows 
have been placed in its base so as to give 
ample light within and yet not weaken the 
solid appearance of the whole. What is per- 
haps the finest feature of the tower, however, 
cannot be clearly felt from an engraving; the 
graceful yet strong and reassuring line formed 
as it broadens toward the base. 

City Tract and Missionary So- 
ciety. — Incorporated in 1856. Rooms 
9 N. Pearl st. V. H. Youngman, 
pres.; James Rogers, sec; Albert P. 
Stevens, treas.; Rev. Charles Reynolds, 
supt. A most effective organization, 
owning, free from debt, a large three-' 
story brick building, cor. of Franklin 
and Rensselaer sts., where meetings 



65 CLU— COA 

are held on Sunday and nearly every but law is against it. The following 
evening in the week; a library and resolution passed the common council 
reading-room are maintained; an eat- more than 170 years ago: 
ing room, cheap and wholesome, is a « whereas ye children in said city do verjr 

unorderly, to ye shame and scandell of their 
parents ryde down ye hills in ye streets of said 
city with small and great slees on Lord day 
and in week by which many accidents may 
come — Now for preventing ye same it is hereby 
published and declared that it shall and may be 
lawful for any constable within this city, or any 
other person or persons, to take any slee or 
slees from all such boys or girls ryding or offer- 
ing to ryde down any hill within this city and 
break such slee or slees in pieces ! 

" Given under our hands and seals in Albany 
22nd of December in the i2ih year of Her 
Majesty's reyn, Anno Domini 1713." 

Nowadays coasting, snow balling, 
aud kite-flying are all forbidden under 
penalty of $1 for each offense. 

Coat of Arms. — There is no history 
extant of the Arms and Seal of Albany, 
This is the arms : 



CnV MISSION BUILDING. 

feature; and, in fact, where the most 
practical charities are dispensed. The 
society also occupy the old mission 
building on Rensselaer st. below Frank- 
lin. Several missionaries are employed 
to visit the sick and the needy, and a 
ladies' auxiliary board, of which Miss 
A. E. Tweddle is president, has charge 
of a cooking school, a kitchen garden, 
a newsboys' lodging-room, and the 
fruit and flower mission, which are 
mentioned more particularly elsewhere. 
The society also publish monthly a 
paper called The Work at Home. 

Clubs. — The principal clubs are 
Adelphi and Fort Orange (which 
see), also Friendly Few. 

Coasting. — The steep grades of the 
Albany streets have always tended to 
make coasting a favorite amusement, 








The arms as displayed on the west 
front of. the city hall are patterned 
after the seal in use in the mayor's 
office. In the upper half of the shield 
is a tree prostrate, but where it still 
clings to the stump, an industrious 
beaver is finishing his work of gnawing 
off the last fibres of wood and bark. 
[N. B. — The beaver in the above cut 
is small for his age; been stunted by 
too much Assiduity, perhaps.] In the 
lower half on a red ground are two 
sheaves of wjieat in their natural colors. 
The crest is a sloop under full sail, and 
under the shield on a scroll is the mot- 
to i\ssiduity. We see here plainly 
enough symbols of industry and its re- 



COF— CON 



66 



wards to man and beast on land and 
sea. [Heraldically party par fess ar- 
gent and gules. Above, a beaver 
gnawing at the stump of a tree pros- 
trate, both proper; below two garbs as 
the last. Crest; a sloop nnder sail 
proper.] Motto, Assiduity. Note. The 
sloop has the mainsail, topsail and jib 
set, and the bows are turned to the 
sinister corner of the shield. 

OoflFee Room of the City Mis- 
sion. — The " Model Coffee Room " is 
in the basement of the city mission 
building, cor. Rensselaer and Franklin 
sts. It is a neat eating-room, free 
from all bar-room influences, and 
where food is supplied at very low 
rates. Good meals from 6 to 25 cts. 
Coffee, 3 cts. 

Cohoes. — A city of 19,416 (by last 
census) inhabitants, situated in Albany 
county, 8 miles north of Albany; 
reached by the D. and H. C. Co.'s 
railroad, fare 25 cents. Previous to 
i8ii the site of Cohoes was a barren 
waste. Population in 1831 about 150. 
Incorporated as a village in 1848; as a 
city in 1869. The place owes its 
growth to the immense water privilege 
afforded by the Cohoes falls in the 
Mohawk river, and owned by the Co- 
hoes Company, organized in 1826. 
The falls are 75 feet in height, and in 
any state but the one in which Niagara 
is situated, would be considered a great 
wonder. The Harmony cotton mills 
are very extensive, employing 4,000 
operatives; and more knit goods are 
manufactured here than in any other 
place in the country. It is a place 
well worth visiting. 

Commerce Insurance Company, 
The, was organized in 1859, with a 
capital of §200,000. Its first board of 
directors by the act of incorporation 
were Silas B. Hamilton, John G. White, 
Theodore F. Humphrey, Edward A. 



Durant, Luther M. Palmer, Adam Van 
Allen, Thomas Schuyler, Charles B, 
Lansing, Chauncey P. Williams, James 
W. Eaton, Jesse C. Potts, John H. 
Reynolds, Isaac A. Chapman, Matthew 
H. Read, Charles B. Redfield, Archi- 
bald McClure, John N. Parker, Albion 
Ransom. Of these gentlemen Adam 
Van Allen, Charles B. Lansing, Chaun- 
cey P. Williams, James W. Eaton, Jesse 
C. Potts, Isaac A. Chapman still remain 
in the direction. The first officers 
were Silas B. Hamilton, president, 
Garret A. Van Allen, secretary. Mr. 
Van Allen has been as secretary and 
vice-president, an officer of this com- 
pany since its organization, a quarter 
of a century ago. 

In 1865 the capital of the company 
was increased to §400,000, and in 1866 
the present Commerce Insurance 
Building, 57 State St., was erected. 

The Chicago fire of 1871 brought a 
loss of nearly half a million of dollars, 
and compelled a reduction of capital to 
§100,000. The stockholders imme- 
diately subscribed §100,000 more, 
bringing up the capital to the present 
amount §200,000. 

In 1872 the company lost a little 
over §80,000 in the great Boston fire, 
and during its organization it has paid 
§2,400,000 fur losses. Its present offi- 
cers are: Adam Van Allen, president; 
Garret A. Van Allen, vice-president; 
Richard V. DeWitt, secretary. 

Committee of Thirteen, The. — 

The working section of the Citizens' 
Association of Albany, organized in 
1 88 1, for the purpose of attending to 
city and county affairs, and working 
generally in the interests of the tax- 
payers and of good government. They 
claim in their last report to have saved 
the public more than half a million 
dollars. J. Howard King, pres. 

Congregational Church, cor. of 
Eagle and Beaver sts. Corner-stone 



67 



CON 



laid Sept. 22, 1868; dedicated Oct. 14, 
1869; cost, including lot, $130,000. 
No debt. Will seat 1,125. Thirteen 
associated gentlemen, consisting of 
Anthony Gould, Bradford R. Wood, 
Rufus H. King, James McNaughton, 
and others, bought the edifice that had 
long been owned and occupied by the 
First Presbyterian Church, cor. S. 
Pearl and Beaver sts., now Beaver 
Block, Dec. 15, 1849, for $20,000, for 
the purposes of a Congregational church 
and society about to be formed. As 
soon as suitably repaired, it was opened 
for divine service, April 7, 1850, Rev. 
Leonard Bacon, D. D., of New Haven, 
Ct., preaching. Other eminent preach- 
ers of the denomination followed for a 
few months. June 6th, a religious so- 
ciety was organized. On the loth of 
July, a church of 81 members was 
formed. Rev. Ray Palmer, D. D., of 
Bath, Me., was installed pastor, Dec. 
10, 1850, and so remained until April 
18, 1866. Rev. William S. Smart, 
D. D., of Benson, Vt., was installed 
May 30, 1867. The last sermon in the 
old church was preached Feb. 8, 1868. 
After that date, Association Hall, now 
Board of Trade rooms, was occupied 
for religious services until the present 
edifice was completed. Rev. William 
S. Smart, D. D., pastor; D. A. Thomp- 
son, clerk; WiUiam Gould, Jr., treas. 
Sunday services, 10^ A. M., 7^ v. M. 
Sunday-school, 2 P. M., Henry R. 
Kingsbury, supt.; Bethany Mission 
School 67 S. Pearl, 9 A. M., Nelson 
Lyon, supt. Congregational singing 
led by Prof. John E. Sherwood, chor- 
ister. Whole number of church mem- 
bers enrolled since organization, 804; 
present number, 396. 

Congress of 1754. — Of the congress 
of commissioners which met in this 
city, June 19, 1754, Bancroft says: 
" America had never seen an assembly 
so venerable for the states that were 
represented, or for the great and able 



men who composed it." The colonies 
of New York, Massachusetts, New 
Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, 
Pennsylvania and Maryland were rep- 
resented by 25 commissioners. After 
completing a treaty with the Six Na- 
tions, the subject of a union was taken 
up. A plan presented by Benjamin 
Franklin, representative from Pennsyl- 
vania, was reported to the congress, 
and after twelve days spent in debate 
it was adopted substantially as pre- 
sented. July II, the congress ad- 
journed, and as Franklin descended 
the Hudson, the people of New York 
thronged about him to welcome him as 
the mover of the American Union. 
The plan, however, was to be of no 
force unless confirmed by the several 
colonial assemblies, and not one of 
them would submit to delegating so 
much power as was proposed, to the 
general government. On the other 
hand, the king found it did not go far 
enough in that direction, and so it 
failed. But it is remarkable how near- 
ly the proposed basis approached the 
constitution of the United States, and 
Gen. Garfield was perfectly right in 
declaring the last time he passed 
through Albany, that it was in this city 
the germ of the American Union was 
first planted by Benjamin Franklin, in 
1754- 

Conjugal Felicity. — The Duke de 
la Rochefoucauld Liancourt, one of the 
French nobility exiled during the Rev- 
olution, who visited Albany in 1795, 
has recorded that the inhabitants 
" lived retired in their houses with their 
wives, who sometimes are pretty, but 
rather awkward in their manners, and 
with whom their husbands scarcely 
exchange thirty words a day, although 
they never address them but with the 
introductory appellation of " ;;/j ^oir.' " 
There is reason to believe that this 
quiet picture of domestic happiness has 
been somewhat modified of late. 



coo— cou 



68 



Cooking School, The, is in charge 
of a committee from the ladies' auxiliary 
board of the City Tract and Missionary 
Society. Miss Clara T. Harris, 722 
Broadway, chairman. Sessions held 
in rooms in rear of City Mission Rooms, 
9 N. Pearl St., five days in a week. 
Adults as well as children are in- 
structed how to cook wholesome food 
economically. 

Cotrell (& Leonard's Hat and Fur 
Store is at Nos. 472-474 Broadway, 
between Maiden Lane and State street, 
a five story marble building, well 
adapted to the wants of their large 
wholesale and retail trade. For more 
than half a century this house has 
stood for all that is enterprising, thor- 
ough-going and reliable in the import- 
ant business in which they are engaged. 
Their trade extends throughout the 
state and into the neighboring states 
of Massachusetts and Vermont, and in 
hundreds of country towns and villages 
the styles in hats are set by those 
bearing the Cotrell & Leonard stamp. 
Their retail trade is also very large, 
and the number of elegant fur goods 
disposed of by them each season is al- 
most incredible. In nothing is the 
average purchaser more at the mercy 
of the dealer than in the matter of 
furs, and the necessity of dealing with 
men of honor is therefore apparent, 
and accounts, in part, for the steady 
success and growing trade of the firm. 
Sleigh and carriage robes, blankets, 
etc., form part of the stock which is 
not to be excelled in variety or quaUty 
in this country. The present building, 
to which visitors are always welcome, 
was first occupied by the firm in i\pril, 
1884; for 35 years previous they had 
been at 46 State st. Their present 
warehouse is one of the finest and most 
complete hat and fur stores in the 
United States, and is an establishment 
of which the citizens of Albany are 
justly proud. The house has been a 



very popular one for many years, and 
enjoys a very liberal patronage from 
every section of country doing trade in 
Albany. 

Cottonvrood Trees. — The planting 
or maintaining of cottonwood trees is 
made a misdemeanor, by city ordin- 
ance, punishable by three months in 
the Albany penitentiary. 

County. — The county of Albany 
has an area of 509 square miles. It is 
bounded east by the Hudson river, and 
north in part by the Mohawk. The 
Normanskill and Catskill furnish it with 
good water power. The land near the 
Hudson and some of the other streams 
is fertile, but in the mountains it is less 
productive. The east part is covered 
with immense beds of clay, sand and 
gravel, the sand in some places being 
40 feet deep. The county was erected 
in 1689, and originally extended east 
of the Hudson and included the whole 
colony north and west of its present 
limits. (See Farms and Farm Pro- 
ducts.) 

Government. 

Following will be found information 
in regard to the county officers. (See 
Penitentiary and Appendix.) 

The Board of Supervisors con- 
sists of 31 members, who are elected 
annually on the second Tuesday in 
April (with the exception of the Cohoes 
members, who are elected a month 
earlier), and organizes the second 
Tuesday in May following. They meet 
in the City Hall; salaries, $350. 

The Sheriff is chosen every three 
years; office at the jail, in Maiden 
lane; compensation through fees and 
perquisites. The sheriff is not eligible 
for two terms in succession. By a bill 
passed in 1884, after the expiration of 
the present term, the sheriff will be 
paid by a salary of $4,000 and legal 
fees. 



69 



cou 



District Attorney. — Elected by 
the people; term three years; salary 
^4,500. Appoints his assistant; salary 
$2,500. 

County Clerk. — Elected by the 
people; term three years; paid by fees 
and perquisites. Appoints his own 
deputy and clerks. 

County Treasurer. — Office, City 
Hall. Elected by the people; term, 
three years; salary, $5,000. In addi- 
tion to the ordinary duties of the office, 
the treasurer of this county enforces 
the collection of all taxes in this city, 
unpaid on the first of December in 
each year. 

County Judge. — Elected by the 
people; term, six years; salary, $4,500. 

Surrogate. - Elected by the peo- 
ple: term, six years; salary, $4,000. 
There is a clerk of the surrogate's 
court; salary, $i,8oo.' 

Coroners. — By chap. 37, Laws of 
1878, it is provided that there shall be 
four coroners elected in Albany county, 
who shall hold the office three years 
each, at an annual salary of $1,200, 
without fees or perquisites of any kind, 
except in case of acting in the place of 
the sheriff. 

liie board of supervisors each year 
elects by ballot, four physicians to at- 
tend post mortem examinations. Sal- 
ary, $600. 

Justices of Sessions. — Elected 
yearly by the people. Paid by fees; 
$3 a day for each day's attendance 
upon court duties. 

School Commissioners. — Three in 
number; supervise the schools outside 
the cities of Albany and Cohoes; elect- 
ed by the people for a term of three 
years; salary $800 each. 

Loan Commissioners. — Appointed 
by the Senate on nomination by the 
Governor. Term of office three years. 
The fund of which they have charge 
amounts to $91, .615 It is part, of a 
sum which belonged originally to the 
general government, and, there being 



no use for it, was apportioned among 
the several States, and reapportioned 
to counties to be lent on good security, 
at the legal rate of interest, the pro- 
ceeds going into the sinking fund of 
the State. 

Debt. 

The bonded debt of Albany county 
is $999,000, which pays from 3^ to 7 
per cent, interest. 

County Agricultural Society. — 

The Albany County Agricultural So- 
ciety meets annually on the third Wed- 
nesday in January, at 18 Beaver st. 
Jurian Winne, pres.; John H. Farrell, 
sec; D. V. S. Raynsford, treas. No 
fair has been held since 1874. 

Courts. — Following are the courts 
which sit in this city : 

United States Circuit Court. — A 
term is held on the third Tuesday in 
January in Government building. 

United States District Court. — 
Albany is one of the 46 counties of the 
Northern district of New York. . A 
session is held on the third Tuesday in 
January in Government building. 

Court of Appeals. — William C. 
Ruger, chief judge; Charles A. Rapal- 
lo, Charles Andrews, Theodore Miller, 
Robert Earl, George F. Danforth, 
Francis M. Finch, associate judges; E. 
O. Perrin, clerk. Meets at the Capitol. 
Regular terms from second Monday in 
January, with such recesses as the 
court directs. 

Supreme Court— Third department 
— General Terms held on the fourth 
Tuesday of January and third Tuesday 
of November at City Hall. 

Supreme Court, Circuit, Oyer and 
Terminer and Special Terms, held 
at City Hall on the second Monday of 
January, first Monday of March, first 
Monday of May, second Monday of 
June, for trial of equity cases without 
a jury; first Monday of October, first 



CUS— DOD 



70 



Monday of December. Special terms 
for motions only, held at City Hall, last 
Tuesday of each month. Special 
terms for motions and arguments on 
demurrers at City Hall last Tuesday of 
every month. Justices — A. Melvin Os- 
born, of Catskill; Charles R. Ingalls, 
of Troy; Wm. L. Learned, of Albany; 
T. R. Westbrook, of Kingston; Rufus 
W. Peckham, of Albany. 

Albany County Court and Court 
OF Sessions meets at City Hall on the 
second Monday of February, fifth Mon- 
day of March (no grand jury), second 
Monday of June, third Monday of Sep- 
tember, and second Monday of No- 
vember. John C. Nott, county judge; 
Peter Walker, Albert E. Hinman, jus- 
tices of sessions; D. Cady Herrick, 
district attorney; William D. Strevell, 
clerk. The following terms are held 
without a jury: Fourth Monday of 
January, second Monday of March, 
fourth Monday of May, fourth Monday 
of October, fourth Monday of Decem- 
ber. 

City Court, m ets in City Building 
every day at 9 o'clock (Sundays and 
holidays excepted). Justices — Andrew 
Hamilton, Franklin M. Danaher, Ed- 
M'ard J. Brennan. 

Special Sessions of the City of 
Albany, meets at City Hall every 
Tuesday. Anthony Gould, recorder; 
John A. Delehanty, assistant district- 
attorney. 

Police Court, meets daily in City 
Building. WiUiam K. Clute, John 
Gutmann, police justices. 

Custom House, U. S., Government 
building. John A. Luby, surveyor of 
customs; Orrin A. Fuller, special dep- 
uty. There are also two deputies and 
four inspectors. The revenue from 
this office averages about $150,000 a 
year; expenses less than $11,000. The 
imports are principally lumber and 
grain (in large part barley) from 
Canada. 



Debt.— The city debt, April i, 1884, 
was as follows: General, $1,095,000; 
Washington park, $1,048,000; water, 
$1,090,000; total, $3,233,000. 

Delaware & Hudson Canal Co's. 
Railroads. — This great corporation 
leases and operates among others, the 
roads formerly known as the Albany & 
Susquehanna, and the Rensselaer & 
Saratoga.. Depot foot of Maiden lane. 

The Albany & Susquehanna, was 
opened to Binghamton Jan. 14, 1869, 
and was leased to the D. & H. Feb. 24, 
1870. Its length is 142 miles; employs 
2,161 persons, and paid them last year, 
$991,541. It carried 474,496 passen- 
gers, and 2,355,215 tons of freight — 
of which 1,246,092 tons was coal. 
Through fare, 2 cents per mile; way 
fare, 3 cents. Total earnings, $2,615,- 
468; surplus, over expenses, $160,361. 

The Rensselaer & Saratoga, was 
chartered April 14, 1832. Employs 
1,930 persons; wages paid, $793,398; 
carried last year, 1,852,916 passengers, 
and 1,346,352 tons of freight; fare, 3 
cents a mile. Earnings, $2,149,043; 
deficiency, $917. 

Docks. — Strictly speaking, there are 
no docks in Albany, except at the 
Lumber district, as the term means an 
inclosed basin, or the water-way be- 
tween two wharves; but the quays are 
by custom called docks. 

Dodgers. — The name by which 
printed hand-bills of a small kind are 
known. The penalty should any per- 
son " throw, deposit, strew or litter on 
any street, sidewalk, square or park in 
the city of Albany, or cause to be 
thrown, deposited, strewn or littered 
thereon, any paper or other substance 
having any printed or written matter 
thereon, or pictures, with the intent to 
advertise or attract public attention to 
any subject, thing or event," is not less 
than $10 nor more than $50. 



DOG— DRI 



Dogs. — The prevalent superstition 
that dogs are more likely to run mad 
one season of the year than another is 
perpetuated in a city ordinance, which 
prohibits all dogs from going at large 
in June, July, August and September, 
unless properly muzzled, under penalty 
to their owners of $5 line. Unmuzzled 
dogs so running at large may be killed 
by anybody. The police make a prac- 
tice of poisoning a great many every 
year. 

Douw's Building. — South-west cor. 
of State and Broadway; devoted to 
stores and offices; erected in 1842. 

Drives. — The drives in and about 
Albany are numerous and picturesque. 
Washington Park, with its three miles 
of excellent roadway, may be taken as 
the centre from which the drives radi- 
ate. The most frequented is the New 
Scotland turnpike, or the Hurstville 
road, as it is commonly called, which, 
starting at the Lexington and Madison 
ave. entrance to the Park, leads to a 
drive of inexhaustable extent and va- 
riety. Two miles out is the famous 
Log Tavern, the glory of which has 
somewhat faded under modern man- 
agement. Seven miles distant is the 
pretty village of Slingerlands, while a 
drive of a dozen miles along this 
smooth plank road brings us to the 
foot of the romantic Indian Ladder. 
A mile further takes us to the top of 
the mountain, from which the view is 
almost as sublime as is that from the 
hotel verandah on the Catskills. A 
lovely drive on the New Scotland road, 
and a much shorter one, is to the 
covered bridge, three miles from 
Albany, and then turning to the right 
make the circuit, coming out at Mc- 
Kownsville, on the Western avenue 
road, and then to the city. This is a 
drive of about seven miles, and is sim- 
ply exquisite, the view from Sunset 
hill, the road through the dense pine 



woods, and the little church in the for- 
est, being the most attractive features. 
Another pleasant drive is out Western 
avenue to the Boulevard, turn to the 
right and take the road west, which is 
a continuation of State street. This 
leads over the sand, the appearance of 
which is desolate for two miles, but 
after that the shrubbery grows dense, 
and the approach to Rensselaer lake 
(see Water-works) is one of the 
most charming bits of landscape possi- 
ble to imagine. For equestrianism this 
route is especially agreeable. The 
Boulevard at the intersection of Madi- 
son and Western avenues also points 
the way to the well-known Shaker 
road, via West Albany, and to the 
drives of Newtonville, that most pros- 
perous and beautiful of Albany sub- 
urbs. The Troy road, once the fash- 
ionable drive of two cities, is no longer 
popular. In dry weather it is merely 
a cloud of dust, and during the damp 
season the mud is ankle deep. Another 
boulevard, however, constructed by the 
Van Rensselaer estate, and running 
parallel with the old road, affords a 
splendid drive and a matchless view of 
the river as far down as Castleton. 
Upon this boulevard the new residence 
of Emmet, the actor, is located. The 
drives on both sides of the river are 
among the most beautiful in the State, 
and are largely frequented by Alba- 
nians who are the happy owners of 
horses. The road below Kenwood, 
past the Corning farm, and as far south 
as Coeymans, is excellently kept and 
singularly attractive, as is the one which 
from Kenwood goes up the hill and 
bending to the west intersects with the 
southerly extremity of Delaware ave- 
nue. Over the river the drives are 
of rare and bewitching beauty, especi- 
ally the Ridge road, running from the 
hills back of Greenbush to Castleton. 
From every point on this noble drive 
the view is one of exceeding charm. 
To the east is a glorious landscape, 



DUD 72 

suggestive of peace, contentment and 
prosperity; to the south the Hudson, 
like a silver thread, glides along its 
winding pathway to the sea, while to 
the west the city of Albany, with its 
signs of bustle and thrift indicates the 
activity, energy and intelligence of the 
people. This drive is probably the 
most thoroughly delightful of any near 
the city. Of course during the winter 
months these roads are not frequented 
for pleasure driving, the sleighing being 



Dudley Observatory, The, is lo- 
cated in the northern part of the city, 
near the line of the Central railroad. 
The grounds on which it is placed are 
the highest in Albany, and are 200 
feet above mean tide. They are about 
eight acres in extent, and are planted 
with trees and shrubbery. The build- 
ings consist of the Astronomical, the 
Meteorological, and the Physical observ- 
atories, and a large dwelling house, 
the official residence of the director. 



^=a 




DUDLEY OBSERVATORY. 



confined to the park, Western avenue 
and the canal. A city ordinance allows 
the speeding of horses on the avenue 
during the sleighing season; therefore, 
on a bright winter afternoon the scene 
is one of sparkle and animation, when 
the wealth and fashion of the town goes 
sleighing and blooded trotters come 
flying down the road to the merry 
music of the bells, and the excited 
cries of the throng which usually 
gathers on the sidewalks to witness the 
vigorous winter sport. 



The Astronomical Observatory is a 
handsome structure of brick and free- 
stone, in the general form of a cross, 
80 by 70 feet. It is surmounted by a 
large revolving turret, which contains 
the great equatorial refractor of 13 
inches aperature, and 15 feet focal 
length. In the west wing of the Ob- 
servatory is a large and excellent tran- 
sit instrument, which is among the 
latest productions of the celebrated 
firm of Pistor & Martins, of Berlin. In 
the east wing is the great Olcott Mer- 



73 



DUD 



idian Circle, one of the largest and 
finest of its class. This instrument is 
also the work of Pistor & Martins. Its 
optical qualities are not exceeded by 
any similar instrument in the world. 
The object-glass is eight inches in 
diameter, and the telescope is about lo 
feet in length. The mounting of this 
instrument is specially massive and 
costly. Its principal feature consists 
in three enormous monoHths of lime- 
stone, of which one, weighing several 
tons, forms the cap-stone of the main 
pier, while the other two, weighing 
each nearly eight tons, rest upright 
upon this and serve as the direct sup- 
ports of the instrument. In the same 
room is a variety of delicate and costly 
apparatus, auxiliary to the principal 
instrument, which is in constant use 
for the most refined operations of as- 
tronomy, and employs the chief activi- 
ties of the observing corps. Among 
other remarkable instruments belong- 
ing to the Observatory are the Sheutz 
tabulating engine, the Clark comet 
seeker, the disc and printing chrono- 
graphs, astronomical clocks, self-re- 
cording meterological instruments, etc. 
The Observatory also possesses an 
astronomical library of about 2,000 
volumes, besides numerous pamphlets 
and charts. 

This institution was founded by the 
munificence of Mrs. Blandina Dudley, 
and leading citizens of Albany. The 
act of incorporation was secured in 
1852. The Observatory building was 
formally dedicated to astronomy in 
August, 1856, under the auspices of 
the American Association for the Ad- 
vancement of Science (which, that 
year, held its annual session in this 
city), and in the presence of many dis- 
tinguished men of science from abroad. 
Geological Hall had been opened on 
the previous day. The address com- 
memorating the inauguration of the 
Dudley Observatory was delivered in 
the Academy Park by Edward Everett, 
6 



and has since become celebrated as a 
fine specimen of American oratory. 
Previous to the delivery of the address, 
an additional gift of $50,000 to the 
Observatory was unexpectedly an- 
nounced from Mrs. Dudley; where- 
upon Prof. Agassiz, who was seated on 
the platform, arose, and, delightedly 
swinging his hat, proposed, in trumpet 
tones : " Three cheers for Mrs. Dud- 
ley ! " It is needless to say that the 
audience was electrified, and warmly 
responded to the summons. 

The total donations to the Observa- 
tory up to the present time exceed 
$200,000. Of this sum, Mrs. Dudley 
gave $105,000^. More than Si 00,000 
have been expended in buildings and 
equipment, and about $100,000 is safe- 
ly invested as a permanent fund for 
the support of the institution. 

Since 1878, the astronomical opera- 
tions of the Observatory have experi- 
enced a new impulse, in the zone 
work, which has been undertaken in 
co-operation with European observa- 
tories, under the general direction of 
the International Astronomical So- 
ciety. In aid of this enterprise, con- 
siderable donations have been made by 
citizens of Albany and others. 

From the normal clock of the Ob- 
servatory, standard time is furnished to 
the various railroad and telegraph 
offices in this vicinity. At 9 A. M. and 
9 P. M. the fire bells of the city are 
struck in coincidence with a signal 
from the Observatory clock, by the 
Fire Alarm Telegraph service. At 
noon, each day, the standard time of 
the Observatory is transmitted over the 
lines of the Delaware and Hudson 
Canal Company's system of railroads, 
and also over some of the Western 
Union telegraph lines. There is also 
a system of clocks controlled electric- 
ally from the Observatory. (See Time 
Service.) 

Among the distinguished astrono- 
mers who have been in charge of this 



DWE— ELE 



74 



Observatory are Dr. B. A. Gould, now 
Chief Astronomer of the Argentine 
Confederation, S. A.; Professor O. M. 
Mitchel, who afterward died in 1862, 
Major General of U. S. Volunteers, 
and Dr. Brunnow, since Astronomer 
Royal of Ireland. 

The Observatory is opened on Tues- 
day evenings, when visitors are admit- 
ted in limited numbers. Cards of ad- 
mission should be obtained by previous 



Samuel B. Ward, Frederick Townsend, 
Rufus W. Peckham. Secretary and 
Director — Lewis Boss. 

Dwellings. — According to the cen- 
sus of 1880, there were 13,259 dwell- 
ings in Albany; average number of 
persons to a dwelling, 6.85. 

East Albany is part of the village 
of Greenbush, and is reached by the 




ELM TREE CORNER, N. PEAKL AND STATE, IN 180O. 



application, either to the director of 
the Observatory or to any one of the 
sixteen trustees, to whom the manage- 
ment of the institution is entrusted. 

The present organization of the Ob- 
servatory is as follows : 

Board of Trustees — John F. Rath- 
bone, pres; Isaac W. Vosburgh, Dud- 
ley Olcott, Joseph H. Ramsey, Erastus 
D. Palmer, Charles B. Lansing, Clar- 
ence Rathbone, John M. Crapo, 
Thomas Hun, EHphalet N. Potter, 



middle bridge, or by the ferry at the 
foot of Maiden lane. 

Electric Light, The, is among the 
great improvements of the age, and in 
no city in the country has it been so 
largely adopted by the municipality as 
in Albany. The Albany Electric Illumi- 
nating Co., which uses the Brush light, 
was organized in April, i88i; office 
and works, 71 Trinity place; W. F, 
Hurcomb, preS., Walter Dickson, vice- 



75 



ELM— EM P 



pres., J. Irving Wendell, treas., Ed- 
ward A. Maher, sec. and gen. man- 
ager. It has a contract to light the 
streets for five years from June 21, 1881, 
at 50 cents per lamp, per night. The 
lights number 431 ; they are burned on 
an average, 10^ hours. Besides these 
about 100 other lights are supplied to 
private parties at 50 cents a night, but 
are not to burn over seven hours. 
There is no expense for putting in, or 
for fixtures, where the light is used 
permanently. These lamps are reached 
through eight circuits and 70 miles of 
wire. The power is supplied by five 
engines aggregating 650 horse power, 
A system of storage batteries is also in 
use in connection with the Swan in- 
candescent light. These batteries sup- 
ply from five to forty lights according 
to capacity, for four hours each. Sev- 
eral firms in town use the Edison 
light, which is supplied by their own 
power. The Capitol is also lighted by 
electricity, but by an independent 
system. 

Elm Tree Corner. — The- name by 
which the Tweddle Hall corner was 
known for many years, because of an 
ancient, crooked elm which stood there 
till the widening and improvement of 
N. Pearl st. 1877. Our cut gives a 
view of the spot as it appeared when 
the Lydius house (see Old Houses) 
stood opposite. The Vanderheyden 
palace is also shown with another tree 
in front of it. The follovv'ing verses 
by Mr. W. D. Morange, celebrate one 
peculiarity of the spot, which has not 
yet wholly passed away : 



It do n't appear that the Old Elm Tree 
Was a slippery elm, you know; 

But nevertheless it will doubtless be 
Set down in the records so. 



When the snow congeals on the slanting grade, 
Where the Elm Tree went to rot, 

And scores of broken heads have made 
Their mark on the sacred spot, 



That place of broken skulls will be 

By many a frantic mourner. 
Set down in the town geography, 

As the " Slippery Elm Tree Corner." 

Employments. — According to the 
census of 1880, the employment of 
32,153 of the inhabitants of Albany 
was as follows : 

Agricultural laborers 74 

Farmers 67 

Gardeners, etc 176 

Stock raisers, drovers 20 

Barbers 207 

Boarding-house keepers 52 

Clergymen 94 

Clerks and copyists 171 

Dentists 22 

Domestics 2,993 

Hotel and restaurant keepers and em- 
ployes 441 

Journalists 61 

Laborers 4>i3o 

Laundry employes 258 

Lawyers 211 

Livery stable keepers and employes 129 

Musicians and music teachers 148 

Government officials 441 

Physicians .- 181 

Teachers 448 

Clerks in stores 2,362 

Commercial travelers, peddlers, etc 547 

Bankers, brokers 105 

Insurance iii 

Saloon keepers 434 

Traders and dealers 1 ,889 

Draymen, hacknien 731 

In express companies 51 

In railroad companies 750 

*On street railroads 39 

Telegraph companies 85 

Steamboats-, canals, etc 204 

Apprentices 266 

Bakers 352 

Blacksmiths 370 

Bookbinders 136 

Boot and shoe makers i>2i7 

Brewers and malsters 208 

Masons, stone cutters 965 

Brick makers 82 

Butchers 323 

Cabinet makers 195 

Carpenters 1,127 

Carriage, car makers 101 

Cigar makers 424 

Clerks and book-keepers in manufac- 
tories 62 

*NoTE.— Manifestly incorrect. The editor of 
the Hand-Book presents these figures without 

vouching for them in any particular. The 

United States government paid to have them 
correct, and they are the best we have. 



* 

[ 



ENG— EPI 



76 



Coopers 

Cotton and wool mill operatives 

Employes in manufactories not specified, 

Engineers and firemen 

Fish and oystermen 

Jewelers 

Harness makers 

Iron and steel 

Leather 

Lumbermen 

Machinists 

Manufacturers 

Factory operatives, not specified 

Millers 

Miners 

Painters 

Paper mill operatives 

Plumbers and gas fitters 

Printers 

Saw mill operatives 

Ship carpenters 

Tailors, dress makers, milliners 

Tinners 

Wheelwrights 



113 

16 
216 



337 
6 



95 

932 

79 

A 

266 
40 



553 

lOI 

153 
513 
39 
31 
,003 
142 
29 



English Sparrows were introduced 
into Albany in 1865. They were con- 
sidered then a great novelty and a 
greater blessing. They are not re- 
garded in either light nowadays. 

Episcopal Churches. — In Novem- 
ber, 1 716, the first EngUsh church west 
of the Hudson was opened for divine 
service. It was a stone building, 58 
by 42 feet, standing a short distance 
from the site of the present St. Peter's, 
in the middle of State st., at the base 
of the hill, which was afterwards cut 
down to the gradual slope which leads 
to the Capitol, but which at that time 
was crowned with the English fort. 
(See cut, p. 87.) Rev. Thomas 
Barclay, chaplain to the fort, was the 
rector. 

St. Peter's was the title under which 
the church was incorporated in 1769. 
The first edifice was taken down in 
1802, and a second, built where the 
present edifice stands, was consecrated 
Oct. 4, 1803. This lasted till 1858, 
when it was razed to make way for the 
present elegant structure, consecrated 
Oct. 4, i860. It is built of Schenec- 
tady blue stone, with New Jersey 
brown stone trimmings. The interior 



is 136x68 feet, and 64 feet from floor 
to ceiling. Seating capacity, about 
1,000. The tower, one of the richest 
specimens of French Gothic in this 
country, was completed in 1875 ^y the 
munificence of the family of the late 
John Tweddle. The chimes of eleven 
bells were presented by Mr. George 




ST. PETER'S CHURCH. 

Tweddle, and cost $6,000. A bell, 
mistakenly known as Queen Anne's 
bell, bearing date of 1751, is used only 
to ring in the new year. It is said to 
have been the bell that first proclaimed 
independence in this city. A com- 
munion service, the gift of Queen 
Anne to a projected chapel among the 
Onondagas, which was never built, 
was given to this church at the frontier 
post in 1 716, and has been in use ever 
since. It consists of seven pieces of 
solid silver, each of them bearing the 
royal arms and a curious inscription. 



77 



The vault in the vestry room of the 
church also contains the parchment 
conveying the original grant of land 
by George I. and the charter of the 
parish given by George III. The me- 
morial windows of the church, of 
which there are a great number, are 
very tine specimens of English deco- 
rated glass. The parish house on 
Lodge St. was built in 1875, at a cost 
of ^24,000. Whole value of church 
property, ^^230,000. Number of com- 
municants, about 500. Sunday services 
at 10:30 and 4; Wednesdays and Fri- 
days, 10.30. Rector, since Aug. i, 1874, 
Rev. Walton W. Battershall, D. D. 
The following rectors have preceded 
him: Thomas Barclay, 1708 to 1728; 
Mr. Miln, 1728 to 1737; Henry Bar- 
clay, 1737 to 1746; John Ogilvie, 1748 
to 1760; Thomas Brown, 1764 to 1768; 
Harry Munro, 1768 to 1774; Thomas 
Ellison, 1784 to 1802; Frederick Beas- 
ley, 1803 to 1809; Timothy Clowes, 
1810 to 1817; William B. Lacey, 1818 
to 1832; Horatio Potter, 1833 to 1^55; 
Thomas Clapp Pitkin, 1855 ^o 1862; 
William F. Wilson and William Tat- 
lock, 1862 to 1866; Wm. Croswell 
Doane, 1867 to 1869; William A. 
Snively, 1869 to 1874. 

The Cathedral of All Saints, in 
the city and diocese of Albany, was in- 
corporated by act of Legislature in 
March, 1873. Its own statutes and 
by-laws were adopted in the following 
year, and in 1877 it was formally and 
fully recognized as part of the organic 
life and law of the diocese by a nem 
con. vote of the convention. The 
chapter consists of the Bishop as its 
official and ex-officio head; of four 
"principal persons," the dean, pre- 
centor, chancellor, and treasurer; cer- 
tain minor canons being unmarried 
clergy, and six laymen, holding office 
for two, four and six years, elected by 
the " greater chapter." The greater 
chapter represents all the elected offi- 
cers and bodies of the Diocesan Con- 



EPI 

vention, (standing committee, board 
of missions, deputies to convention, 
arch-deacons, etc.,) and the rectors of 
St. Peter's and St. Paul's churches in 
Albany. 

The scheme of the cathedral is 
adopted from the statutes of the Eng- 
lish Cathedral of the First Foundation; 
with the marked exception (which is 
an admirable characteristic of the 
American church) of the introduction 
of lay communicants to the governing 
body. The idea of the cathedral is to 
establish in Albany a free church, 
with frequent services, choral Avorship, 
constant preaching, and institutions of 
learning and charity. Every member 
of the diocese has his own right and 
place in the congregation, and has a 
voice, through his elected representa- 
tives, in the choice of the clerical and 
lay members of the chapter. The 
present building, cor. Hawk and Elk 
sts., is only the chapel of the cathedral 
church. The pupils of St. Agnes 
FCHOOL (which see) and the members 
of the Sisterhood worship in it, besides 
a congregation, filling the building. 
The Cathedral Church is to be begun 
at once; the laying of the corner-stone 
being fixed for June 3d, 1884. The 
new building, designed by Mr. R. W. 
Gibson, architect, of Albany, is a very 
noble specimen of Gothic architecture. 
It will cost, when completed, about half 
a milUon of dollars. The portion of it 
to be built now, at a cost of $150,000, 
omits the eastern, the western towers, 
and the outside ornamentation. But it 
secures the whole seating capacity for 
1,800 worshippers, and will be a com- 
manding structure with a very dignified 
interior. It is hoped to finish this pro- 
visional building in three years. The 
seats, by the act of incorporation, are 
forever free. There are no endow- 
ments, and the support comes wholly 
from the free-will-ofiferings of the con- 
gregation. Rt. Rev. Wm. Croswell 
Doane, Bishop; Rev. G. W. Dean, 



EPI 



78 



chancellor; Rev. E. T. Chapman, treas; 
Rev. T. B. Fulcher, minor canon. 

St. Paul's. — Lancaster st, above 
Havi^k. Rev. J. Livingston, Reese, 
D. D., rector. Organized Nov. 12, 
1827. . The first church edifice was in 
S. Ferry St., consecrated Aug. 24, 1829. 
After the sale of this building to the 
Catholics in 1839, the theatre on S. 
Pearl st. was bought by the parish, and 
at an expense of some Si 0,000 was 
transformed into a church, and conse- 
crated Feb. 22, 1840. At that time 
the Rev. Wm. Ingraham Kip, now 
Bishop of California, was rector. After 
the election of the Rev. Dr. Kip to 
the Episcopate, the Rev. Dr. Starkey, 
now Bishop of Northern New Jersey, 
was rector for four years. The present 
edifice was intended for a new congre- 
gation, belonging to the Dutch Re- 
formed Church, and was known as the 
Dudley Church. When partly com- 
pleted, it was sold, on account of debt, 
to the vestry of St. Paul's, who com- 
pleted the building and added a chan- 
cel. It was used for the first time for 
public service Sept. 21, 1862. The 
Rev. Dr. Rudder, afterwards of St. 
Stephen's, Philadelphia, was then rec- 
tor. The present rector entered on 
his duties in June, 1864. In October, 
1877, the semi-centennial of the parish 
was celebrated. In the summer of 
1883 a Parish House, connected with 
the church was built as a memorial to 
Mrs. John. H. Van Antwerp, and fur- 
nished completely as a memorial to 
Mrs. Samuel Schuyler. This has given 
all needed room and facilities for 
parish and Sunday-school work. The 
church has 600 communicants; 720 
children and 80 teachers in its Sunday- 
school; a large and flourishing mission 
chapel on Madison ave. below Pearl, 
where services are held twice a Sun- 
day, under the care of the assistant 
minister. No mortgage nor floating 
debt. 

Trinity. — Trinity place. Organized 



Sept. 4, 1839. The parish was small, 
but managed to build in 184 1-2, cor. 
Franklin and Herkimer sts., an edifice 
holding about 300. Jan. i, 1844, Rev, 
Edward Selkirk became rector, and 
remained such till 1884. Present 
building consecrated Jan. 21, 1849. 
Seats about 500. 

Holy Innocents. — North Pearl st. 
cor. of Colonic. Rev. Ralph Wood 
Kenyon, Rector. This was the fifth 
parish organized by the Episcopal 
Church in this city. The edifice was 
erected as a memorial to his four chil- 
dren by Mr. William H. De Witt, who 
gave the site and defrayed the entire 
cost of the building. Built in the early 
English style of architecture, it is per- 
fect in all its appointments. The date 
of its consecration, Feb. 3, 1850, makes 
it the earliest specimen of the style in 
Albany. It seats 350, and the pews 
are all free. 

Grace. — Cor. Robin st. and Clinton 
ave., was organized in 1846. The 
Rev. Mansell Van Rensselaer, D. D., 
LL. D., was the first Rector. Under 
his ministrations services were held in 
an upper room cor. State and Lark sts. 
From here they moved to a larger 
room in Spring St., where services were 
conducted until the present building 
was erected cor. of Lark and Washing- 
ton ave. in 1850. In 1873 the building 
was moved to its present location. In 
1875 the rectory was built at a cost of 
nearly 39,000. There have been eight 
rectors since its organization : Rev. 
Mansell Van Rensselaer, D. D., LL. D.; 
Rev. John Alden Spooner; Rev. John 
Radcliff" Davenport, D. D.; Rev. Theo- 
dore M. Bishop, D. D.; Rev. Philander 
K. Cady, D. D.; Rev. Edwin B. Rus- 
sell; Rev. James Hutchings Brown; 
Rev. David Louis Schwartz. The pres- 
ent number of communicants, 250. 
The seats are free, and the church de- 
pends entirely upon the offertory for 
support. The services : Morning prayer 
and sermon, 10:30 A. M.; Sunday- 




INTERIOR ALL SAINTS CATHEDRAL. 



79 



EVA— EXE 



school, 2 :30 P. M.; evening prayer and 
sermon, 7 :30 p. M. 

Evangelical Churches.— These are 
entirely German organizations, services 
being conducted in that language : 

Evangelical Ger>l\n Assocl-vtion. 
— 8 Elm St., north of Grand, Rev. 
Jacob Eberling, pastor; Charles See- 
man, supt. 

German Evangelical Protestant 
Church. — Clinton cor. Alexander. 
Rev. Paul L, Menzel, pastor; organ- 
ized in 1 850; comprises 156 families. 

Excursions. — The traveller who has 
exhausted sight-seeing in Albany, or 
the resident who wishes to go a 
pleasuring, may, in the summer time, 
take his choice of a number of short 
excursions at small expense. 

By Boat. — The Albany and Troy 
line of steamers afford a pleasant river 
glide of six miles and return for 20 
cents, and on Saturdays for 10 cents. 
The boats, the Whitney and Sanders, 
leave every hour from the foot of 
Maiden lane. Their Sunday patronage 
is large. Small boats run down 
the river as far as New Baltimore, 
touching at the pleasant villages of 
Cedar Hill, Castleton, N. Coeymans, 
and Coeymans. For$i one can spend 
the day on the river, going as far as 
Rhinebeck by the Day line, and re- 
turning the same way. This affords a 
view of the upper Hudson and the 
Catskill mountains. During the season 
there are, almost daily, river excursions 
of Sunday-schools and associations of 
various kinds. 

By Rail. — The trip to Troy can be 
made on this side the river by the D. & 
H. C. Co.'s railroad from Union depot. 
Fare, 15 cents. Round trip tickets 
good on day of issue on either side of 
river, 25 cents. Cars leave every hour. 
In this way one sees the Lumber dis- 
trict, has a charming view of the Hud- 



son, the villas on the Troy road, the 
Rural and St. Agnes Cemeteries, Fair 
grounds, Erie canal, the great iron 
works, and a comprehensive view of 
Troy itself. Trains also go to Troy on 
east side of the river from the Union 
depot about as often, but the views are 
not to be compared with the other 
route. For Cohoes and Cohoes falls 
take the D. & H. C. Co.'s trains; fare, 
25 cents. Cohoes is a perfect bee- 
hive of industry, and the falls are an 
object of great interest and beauty. 
Other excursions which can be made in 
one day on this line of roads are to 
Howe's Cave (which see) ; fare one 
way, $1.20; to Sharon Springs, fare 
one way, $1.77; to Cooperstown, al- 
lowing four hours' stay, fare, $3.08; to 
Round Lake, fare 85 cents (during 
camp meetings, excursion tickets at 
reduced rates) ; to Saratoga, fare 3i-20; 
through Lake George to Fort Ticonde- 
roga and return via Whitehall, fare for 
the round trip, $6; tickets good for 
two days, and affording rides by cars, 
and steamboat. The great Hoosac 
tunnel may also be visited from here in 
one day. 

Executive Mansion. — On Eagle 
St., south of Elm; stands well back 
from the street on a commanding and 
beautiful site; was bought by the State 
in 1877. 

Former Governors' Mansions. — 
Mr. Jonathan Tenney has kindly per- 
mitted the use of the following interest- 
ing record in advance of publication 
elsewhere : 

" The Legislature of the State fixed the 
seat of government at Albany in 1797. 
Its session that year was held in the 
Stadt Huis, commencing Jan. 3d, and 
ending April 3d. The law making 
Albany the State capital dates March 
lOth. John Jay was then Governor. 
He occupied ' Mr. James Caldwell's ele- 
gant house in State street,' situated 
where Walsh's hat store is now located. 



EXE— EXP 



80 



George Clinton, who was the first Gov- 
ernor of the State, from 1777 to 1795, 
was again elected, and followed Mr. 
Jay from 180 1 to 1804. The same house 
occupied by Gov. Jay was occupied by 
Gov. Clinton and family. I do not 
find where Morgan Lewis (1804 to 
1807) had his mansion. Gov. Daniel 
D. Tompkins (1807 to 181 7) resided a 
portion of his term, if not the whole of 
it, at 99 Washington avenue, where 
George B. Steele now resides. De Witt 
Clinton (1817 to 1823 and 1826 to 
1828) had his residence cor. of North 
Pearl and Steuben streets, on the site 
now occupied by Johnston & Reilly's 
store. Here he died ¥eh. 11, 1828. 
Martin Van Buren (1S28 to 1829) re- 
sided at 92 State street, the site of J. 
H. Simmons' auction rooms. Enos T. 
Throop, who filled out the term of Gov. 
Van Buren, (who resigned March 12, 
1829, to become Secretary of State 
under Andrew Jackson,) and was after- 
wards Governor from 1831 to 1833, had 
his mansion at No. i Elk street, where 
the late Harmon Pumpelly resided. 
William L. Marcy (1S33 to 1839) oc- 
cupied No. 2 Elk, where Gen. Rufus 
H. King now resides. The Kane man- 
sion, on the site of the Ash Grove 
church, was the mansion of William 
H. Seward during his gubernatorial 
career (1839 to 1843). WilHam C. 
Bouck (1843 to 1845) ^^'^s ^^ "9 
Washington avenue, now the residence 
of Gen. John F. Rathbone. Silas 
Wright (1845 to 1847) resided at 133 
North Pearl street. John Voung 
(1847 to 1849), at III State, where 
now resides Mrs. JohnTweddle. Ham- 
ilton Fish (1849 to 1 851), at 15 Elk, 
street, the residence of the late Hon. 
John V. L. Pruyn; Washington Hunt 
(185 1 to 1853), at I Elk street, as 
also did Horatio Seymour (1853- 
1854) during his first term, the same as 
formerly occupied by Gov. Throop. 
Gov. Seymour, during his second term 
( 1 863-1 864), had his executive man- 



sion in ' Dudley Row,' 65 Hawk street. 
Myron H.Clark (1855-1856) occupied 
132 State, where now is the Christian 
Brothers' Academy. John A. King 
(1857-1858), 881 Broadway, corner 
North Ferry, now St. Peter's Hospital. 
Edwin D. Morgan (1859 to 1862), 
and Reuben E. Fenton (1865-1868), 
four years each, made 144 State, late 
residence of Dr. S. O. Vanderpoel, 
their home in this city. John T. Hoff- 
man (1869 to 1872) made the old Con- 
gress Hall, east of the New Capitol, his 
residence. John Adams Dix (1873-4), 
1 23 Washington ave., north of the New 
Capitol. Samuel J. Tilden (1875 ^^ 
1877), Lucius Robinson (1877-1879), 
Alonzo B. Cornell (1880-1882), and 
Grover Cleveland, present Governor, 
have resided in the Executive Mansion, 
138 Eagle, bought by the State of the 
late Robert L. Johnson." 

Exempt Firemen's Association. 

— Michael J. Gorman, pres.; William 
Hill, vice-pres.; Thomas Hogan, sec; 
Visscher Ten Eyck, treas. Board of 
^Managers meets quarterly, first Tues- 
day in Jan., April, July and Oct., at 
City Building. The income of a small 
invested fund and the fees for mem- 
bership are distributed among the indi- 
gent members of the Association. 
Membership, Si. Limited to the old 
department. 

Expresses. — Packages and parcels 
may be sent from Albany via American 
Express Co. (office cor. Broadway and 
Steuben St.), over the Boston & Al- 
bany, Central-Hudson and Harlem, 
and through their connections over 
40,000 miles of railroad and to 5,000 
different offices; via National Express 
Co. (office Maiden lane cor. Dean st.) 
over the R. & S. division of the Dela- 
ware & Hudson Canal Co.'s road, the 
West Shore, and the Hoosac Tunnel 
road as far as North Adams; via U. 
S. & Canada (office with American), 



8i 



FAM— FEA 



over the Susquehanna road and Hoosac 
Tunnel route. 

Baggage Express. — Baggage is 
transferred in this city conveniently 
and at small expense to the owner. 
Wygant & Co.'s agents pass through 
the principal trains approaching Al- 
bany, and collect checks, delivering 
baggage to all the steamboats and 
depots, and to the hotels and private 
houses. They also call for baggage, 
and may be summoned by telephone 
or by leaving orders upon call-books in 
the baggage rooms at the different 
depots; Huested's, cor. Eagle st. and 
Hudson ave.; and Clement & Rice's, 
cor. Clinton ave. and Broadway. The 
regular charge inside of Lark and 
Arch sts. and Livingston ave. is 30 cts. 
for a single piece of baggage, and 25 
cts. for each additional piece. Beyond 
these limits, charges according to the 
distance. Special rates are made for 
amusement combinations. 



Families. — According to the census 
of 1880, there were 18,297 families in 
Albany; average number of persons 
in a family, 4.96. 

Farms and Farm Products in Al- 
bany CO. According to the census of 
1880 there were in Albany co. 3,325 
farms ranging in size from 2 acres to 
1,000 acres, there being only one of a 
thousand acres; average size, 92 acres; 
total acreage, 306,257, of which 254,- 
521 acres are improved, 43,307 acres 
forest and woodland, and 8,429 not 
woodland, and not improved. Value 
of farms, including land, fences and 
buildings, ^19,898,866; value of farm- 
ing implements and machinery, $1,- 
047,171; live stock, June I, 1880, $1,- 
589,181; cost of repairing and building 
fences in 1879, $89,788; cost of fertil- 
izers purchased in 1879, $50,407; esti- 
mated value of all farm products in 
1879, $2,783,028. 



Wool, Spring clip of 1880 115,847 lbs. 

Milk sold 1,390,662 gals. 

Butter made 1,154,969 lbs. 

Cheese " 6,560 " 

Acres. Bushels. 

Barley 1,077 17,952 

Buckwheat 14, 774 211,225 

Corn 11,845 296,145 

Oats 30,169 787.520 

Rye 14,710 158,600 

Wheat 1,652 23,128 

Beans 2,178 

Potatoes 6,537 495,402 

Canada Peas 9,290 

Tons. 

Hay 86,738 95,137 

Pounds. 

Hops 243 123,182 

Broom Corn 56,204 

Honey 64,267 

Beeswax i ,689 

Poultry, barnyard, 118,348 

" other, 16,024 

Doz. 

Eggs 627,374 

Orchard products $138,881 

Market garden products $208,420 

Wood, 25,249 cords $71,658 

(See also Animals, Domestic.) 

Fearey Manufacturing Co. — Boot 

and shoe manufacturers. Established 
1844; incorporated 1882. This factory 
has become one of the institutions of 
Albany. It furnishes employment to 
600 operatives, besides those engaged 
in making boxes and other supplies. 
A thirty-horse power engine and forty- 
horse power boiler supply the power 
and heat. Improved machinery is 
used wherever practicable. Bottoms 
are fastened on by McKay sewing ma- 
chines, Goodyear sewing machines and 
a Standard screw-wire machine. The 
old style hand-sewed and hand-pegged 
work forms an interesting feature for 
those not accustomed to see the various 
processes. Hand-made work has be- 
come so popular again that this firm 
have difficulty in filling their orders. 
"Medium-grade goods for the masses" 
are specialties, but three grades of 
goods better than medium grade are 
manufactured by machinery, besides 
the highest grade of hand-sewed work. 



FEM— FER 



82 



The products of this factory are noted 
for their good fitting and wearing qual- 
ities. Sales are made all over the 
country by agents to the retail shoe 
dealers and general stores. The total 
capacity of all departments is 2,000 
pairs a day. 

Female Academy.— The oldest 
educational institution in the city, was 
founded by Ebenezer Foot in 1814, as 
" Union School, in Montgomery st." 




THE FEMALE ACADEMY. 

In 1 82 1 it was incorporated by act of 
legislature. The present rather impos- 
ing looking building on N. Pearl st. 
was opened May 12, 1834, and cost 
^30,000. "The front faces the east, 
and is ormamented with a beautiful 
Hexa-style portico of the Ionic order. 
The proportions of the columns, capi- 
tals, bases and entablature, are taken 
from the temple on the Ilissus, the 
most beautiful example of the Ionic 
among the remains of antiquity." The 
old Albany Ubrary, of several thousand 
volumes, was stored here, and finally 
became the property of the institution. 
(See Freemasonry.) 
Present Condition. — The academy 



has recently been put upon a new 
basis, with the most satisfactory results. 
It now combines the features of both a 
day and boarding-school, pupils from 
out of town being received into the 
principal's own home. The sanitary 
condition of the building is perfect, 
especially as regards those first great 
requisites, light and air. The course 
of study extends from the Kindergarten 
through a post-graduate course, and 
pupils are therefore received at all 
ages and stages of development. The 
importance of this prolonged tuition, 
under one system, cannot be over-esti- 
mated. The corps of professors and 
teachers, with Miss Lucy A. Plympton 
as principal, is full and efficient. The 
art department, under Prof. William 
P. Morgan, is unexcelled in the city, 
as the work of the pupils conclusively 
shows. French is taught by Mile. 
Anais Gory, a lady who has already 
made herself well-known in the city 
by her personal excellence and consci- 
entious thoroughness of instruction. 
Herr C. A. Meyer, whose reputation 
has long been established as a success- 
ful instructor in his own language and 
literature, teaches the classes in Ger- 
man, and conducts the German re- 
unions. The department of choral 
music is in charge of the well-known 
teacher, Mrs. Bentley. The standards 
of scholarship and deportment are 
both high, and pupils are incited by 
all appropriate means to reach them. 
Discipline, though enforced with kind- 
ness, is strict. In short, the Academy 
has never been in a more prosperous 
condition than now, and the present 
indication is that its future will be suc- 
cessful and brilliant. 

Ferries. — A ferry was established 
across the river at this point in 1642, 
and has been in operation eveT since. 
It is the oldest in the United States. 
In 1807 the scow which was used was 
swamped, and thirty-three persons were 



83 



FIR 



drowned. Three boats are now run, 
one from the foot of North Ferry st. to 
Bath; one from Maiden lane to East 
Albany, (fare 2 cents), and one small 
one from the foot of State st. to Green- 
bush and Bath, (fare 5 cents.) The 
right of regulating ferry on both sides, 
between the original four wards of the 
city and Greenbush, is vested in the 
city by the charter. 



Fire Department, The, as at pres- 
ent organized, was established by chap. 
197 of the Laws of 1867; amended 
Feb. 19, 1872, and June 30, 1S82. 
Five commissioners with the Mayor, ex 
officio, president of the board, have 
entire charge of all its affairs. They 
are chosen by the common council for 
a term of five years, one going out of 
office every year, on the first Monday 
in June. With the exception of the 
one who acts as secretary (for which 
he receives $1,000 a year), they serve 
without pay. The rooms of the board 
and of the chief engineer are in the 
City building. See Appendix for names. 

Engineers. — The chief engineer has 
sole command at fires, makes daily ex- 
amination of the affairs and property 
of the department, and makes full re- 
ports of the fires to the board. Salary, 
$3,000 per annum. 

The assistant engineers attend all 
fires, and in case of the chief's absence, 
the first one at the fire assumes his 
duties. Salary, $400 per annum. 

•Enc;ines and Trucks. -The appa- 
ratus is stationed at the various houses, 
as follows : 

Steamers: No. i, 236 Washington 
ave.; No. 2, 157 Livingston ave.; No. 
3, 895 Broadway; No. 4, 69 Hudson 
ave.; No. 5, 289 South Pearl St.; No. 
6, cor. Swan and Jefferson sts.; No. 7, 
cor. Ontario st. and Clinton ave.; No, 

8, cor. Broadway and N. First st.; No. 

9, (reserve), house of Engine 6; No. 

10, (reserve), house of Engine 3. 



Trucks: No. I, 57 Westerlo st.; No. 
2, 126 CUnton ave.; No. 3 (reserve), 
house of Engine 7. Insurance Patrol, 
41 Hudson ave. 

Hose Depot. — One of the most ad- 
mirable features of the department is 
its hose and supply depot, running 
from Plain street to Hamilton street. 
Here the hose is kept, together with 
extra wheels, tenders, etc., fuel and 
other supplies. After a fire, the hose 
is taken to the depot, and after being 
thoroughly washed is hung up and 
dried, a sufficient quantity, that is clean 
and dry, being kept on hand to replace 
all that is wet. The depot is in charge 
of a superintendent and an assistant. 

The steamers, with the exception of 
the reserves, are all of the Amoskeag 
pattern, and with their tenders, or 
hose-carts, are valued at 35,150 each; 
the trucks, $2,250 each. They are 
drawn by about thirty horses, worth 
$300 each. The department property 
is valued at $301,780. 

The Companies consist of a fore- 
man, salary, $300; 8 members at $200 
each. The Truck companies have 12 
members each, at $200. The perma- 
nent employees are an engineer ($1,- 
080), fireman ($720), driver ($720), 
to each engine; and a tillerman ($720), 
and driver ($720),, to each truck. 
Total force, including telegraph de- 
partment, etc., 145. 

The annual expense of running the 
department is about $85,000, and for 
efficiency 'it is not excelled by any de- 
partment in the United States. 

Relief Flnd. — A fund for the re- 
lief of disabled firemen has been in- 
corporated (chap. 173, Laws of i"^83), 
the Mayor, the Fire Commissioners and 
the Chief of the fire department con- 
stituting the body corporate. All fines 
paid by firemen are turned into this 
fund, and it is hoped that it will be 
largely increased by voluntary subscrip- 
tion. It now amounts to over 81,500. 



FIR 



84 



The Alarm Telegraph. 
The fire alarm in use is known as 
Gamewell's American Fire Alarm Sys- 
tem, and was first put in operation in 
this city June i, 1868. The office is in 
the upper story of the City Building; 
supt., salary, $1,500; asst., salary, $1,- 
040. Seventy-seven alarm boxes, seven 
church bells, the City Hall bell, 
and the engine and truck houses, 
are connected with this office by 70 
miles of wire, divided into eight cir- 
cuits, and operated by means of a 300 
cup battery. The keys of the boxes 
are in charge of persons living near by 
and policemen, and are so made that 
they cannot be withdrawn from the 
lock, after tuifning it, till they are re- 
leased by some one from the telegraph 
office. Each key is numbered and re- 
ceipted for. With this restriction, false 
alarms have become unknown, although 
injudicious alarms are sometimes sound- 
ed. The place where the key is de- 
posited is plainly indicated near the 
box. To sound an alarm, all that is 
necessary is to pull a hook. This strikes 
a bell in the office, in accordance with 
the number of the box. As soon as 
an operator (one of whom is on duty 
constantly) knows certainly which box 
is indicated, he places machinery in 
motion which strikes the same number 
on a gong in each of the engine houses 
and on the eight church bells. For in- 
stance, if box 29 is pulled the bells 
strike twice and then, after an interval 
of seven seconds, nine times; this is 
repeated every twenty seconds till 
every one in the city who has a hst of 
signal boxes knows, or may know, that 
the fire is within the vicinity of the cor- 
ner of Maiden lane and Broadway. 
One blow indicates that the fire is out. 
The hammers and striking machinery 
in the various church towers are en- 
tirely independent of the regular 
tongues and ropes, and are so arranged 
that they will strike a given number of 
strokes before they must be wound up 



again. Each stroke is registered, and 
they are attended to accordingly. Ob- 
servatory time (see Time Service) is 
transmitted to the office every 10 min- 
utes, and at 9 A. M. and 9 P. M. one 
stroke is given on all the bells and 
gongs connected with the telegraph. 
This not only serves to regulate the 
time-pieces of the whole city, but is a 
test whether or not the striking machin- 
ery is in order. The wires are tested 
every 20 rhinutes in the 24 hours. This 
is done by passing a currrent over each 
wire, and the result is registered inside 
of a watch-clock on a revolving disc, 
which also indicates the time when the 
trial is made, and, of course, whether it 
is made at all, or not; thus not only 
testing the wire, but the operator. In 
short, a perfect system of registrations 
prevails in this department, from one 
end to the other. 

Messages are sent over the wires by 
the Morse system, when necessary, and 
there is also an elaborate telephone 
service by which all the engine houses 
are reached. 

The fire alarm boxes are located as 
follows : 

\ S. Pearl and McCarthy ave. 

\ S. Pearl and 3d ave. 

\ Green and 4th ave. 
^ \ Green and Arch. 

\ Broadway and 4th ave. • 

^ \ Broadway and S. Ferry. 

5 Green and Herkimer. 

6 Broadway and Madison ave. 

7 Hamilton and Union. 

8 Broadway and Hudson. 

9 State and Green. 

J ( Delaware and Clinton. 
/ S. Pearl and Schuyler. 
i Elizabeth and 3d ave. 

13 I Morton and Grand. 

( Morton and S. Swan. 

14 S. Pearl and Westerlo. 

15 S. Pearl and Madison ave. 

16 Madison ave. and Philip. 

17 S. Pearl and Plain. 

18 Grand and Beaver. 
T9 S. Pearl and State. 

21 DeWitt and Montgomery. 

23 Canal bridge and N. Ferry. 

24 Broadway and N. Ferry. 

25 Railroad Crossing, Broadway. 

26 Livingston ave. and Water. 



85 



FIR 



27 Broadway and Clinton ave. 

28 Broadway and Columbia. 

29 Broadway and Maiden lane. 

31 N. Pearl and Van Woert. 

32 N. Pearl and Livingston ave. 
34 Monroe and Chapel. 

<i Orange and Lark. 
^^ ( Orange and Swan. 

36 Canal and Hawk. 

37 N. Pearl and Canal. 

38 Lodge and Pine. 

39 Eagle and State. 

41 Washington ave. and Hawk. 

42 Lancaster and Hawk. 

43 State and Swan. 

45 Lancaster and Dove. 

46 Washington ave. and Dove. 

47 State and Lark. 

48 Hudson ave. and Willett. 

51 Central ave. and Knox. 

52 Washington and Lexington avs. 

53 Bradford aud Robin. 

54 Central ave. and Perry. 
56 Clinton ave. and Quail. 

\ Central ave. and Ontario. 
^7 I Central ave. and Watervliet. 

58 Ontario and Third. 

59 Railroad Shops, W. Albany. 
61 Eagle and Hudson. 

, i Eagle and Elm. 
f Eagle and Park ave. 

63 Hamilton and Hawk. 

64 Madison Ave. and Swan. 

65 Jefferson and Dove. 

71 Madison ave. and Lark. 

72 Penitentiary. 

73 Alms House. 

74 Ontario and Madison ave. 

81 Clinton ave. and Ten Broeck. 

82 Second and Swan. 

83 Livingston ave. and Swan. 

84 Third and Lark. 

85 Second and Knox. 

86 Clinton and Lexington avs. 

91 Hawley's mill, Lumber Dist. 

92 Slip 24, Lumber Dist. 

93 Mohawk and N. Pearl, North Albany. 

94 South and Broadway. 

96 Sacred Heart Kenwood. 

The first alarm is given by striking 
three or more rounds; the second by 
striking ten blows. The alarms are 
struck upon the State street Presby- 
terian church; Fourth Presbyterian 
church, Broadway; Third Reformed 
church, South Ferry and Green sts.; 
St. Ann's church, Fourth ave.; Sixth 
Presbyterian church. Second St.; St. 
Patrick's church. Central ave. and 
Perry st. ; Sacred Heart church, North 
Albany; steamers i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 



and 8; trucks i and 2; insurance 
patrol; chief engineer's office, hose 
depot, and on the new City Hall bell, 
which is seventy inches in diameter at 
the mouth, fifty and a half inches in 
height; thickness of sound bow, five 
and one-tenth inches; weight, 7,049 
pounds. The alarm sounded from this 
bell is heard anywhere within the fire 
limits of the city. 

The Insurance Patrol, or Protec- 
tives, act with the department, but are 
supported by the Insurance companies 
doing business in this city. Their ob- 
ject is to protect property from both 
fire and w-ater. The superintendent 
has under him seven men. The supt. 
receives $1,200; the others $720 each. 
The auxiUary force consists of four 
call-men, who receive $200 each. The 
patrol IS under the management of the 
Board of Underwriters. (See Under- 
writers, Board of.) 

Fires. — Nov. 17, 1793, twenty-six 
houses and several stores between what 
is now State St., Broadway and Maiden 
Lane, were burned; loss, $25,000. 
Pomp, a slave, and two female slaves 
were hanged as incendiaries. Aug. 4, 
1797, about one thousand persons were 
rendered homeless, by a fire which 
consumed 96 dwellings on Steuben, 
Montgomery and Columbia sts., and 
Broadway. A fast was proclaimed for 
this, but nobody was hanged. April 
24, 1848, twenty buildings were burned 
on Church, Westerlo, Dallius and 
John sts., and the same night twenty 
more were burned near the corner of 
Green and Beaver. But the great tire 
of '48 was Aug. 17, when 37 acres 
were burned over, the fire starting cor. 
Broadway and Herkimer sts., sweeping 
both sides of Broadway and Church 
St., then to the Pier as far as Maiden 
Lane. The burnt district extended 700 
feet west from the river on Herkimer, 
350 on Dallius, 900 on Union, 300 east 
on Hudson, and 1600 on Quay st. 



FIR— FOR 



86 



About 600 houses were burned; loss, 
nearly $3,ocx),ooo. New York city- 
contributed over ^12,000 to the 
sufferers. 

Fire-"works. — Except on Fourth of 
July, the firing of rockets, crackers, 
pistols, etc., is punishable by a fine 

of $2. 

First Railroad. — The first railroad 
in the State was begun in Aug., 1830, 
and called the Mohawk and Hudson. 
It was from Albany to Schenectady, 
The first train over the whole line ar- 
rived here May 14, 1832, and was re- 
ceived by a large assemblage of citi- 
zens, and the firing of cannon. The 
road had been in partial operation be- 
fore this, and in Oct. 1831, was carry- 
ing 387 passengers a day. Sept. 24th 
of that year a famous excursion was 
made, a lithograph of which has been 
extensively circulated. 

First Steamboat. — Robert Fulton's 
steamboat, the Clermont, arrived at the 
foot of Madison ave., Sept. 5, 1807, 
thus completing the first steamboat 
trip of any length ever made in Amer- 
ica. The rate of speed was about five 
miles an hour; fare from New York, 
$j. (See Steamboats.) 

Foreign Born. — According to the 
census of 1880, of the 90,758 popula- 
tion in Albany, 23,765 were born in 
foreign lands. Following are the 
figures : 

Atlantic Islands i 

Australia 3 

Austria, proper 51 

Belgium 16 

Bohemia 20 

Canada 1,012 

British America 57 

China 5 

Cuba 6 

Denmark 10 

Europe (not specified) 12 

France 149 

German Empire 6,648 

England 1,866 



Ireland 

Scotland 

Wales 

Great Britain (not specified). 

Greece 

Holland 

Hungary 

India 

Italy . 

Luxemburg 

Mexico 

N orway 

Poland 

Russia • 

Sandwich Islands 

South America 

Spain 

Sweden 

Switzerland 

Turkey 

West Indies 

Born at sea 



572 
27 



356 
19 

7 
77 
34 

2 

4 

61 

9 

3 



Fort Frederic, " the fortress of the 
crown," while New York was a colony 
of England stood on what is now State 
St., south of, and occupying in part the 
position of St. Peter's church' It is 
supposed to have been named in honor 
of the House of Hanover. (See 
cut, p. 87.) 

Fort Orange. — One of the names 

by which Albany was known in its 
early history. (See A Bit of History.) 

Fort Orange Club. -Organized 
Jan. 31, 1880. Pres., Erastus Corning; 
vice-pres.. Grange Sard; secretary, 
William Kidd; treas , James D. Was- 
son. The design of the club is to 
establish and maintain a library, read- 
ing and assembly rooms, and to pro- 
mote social intercourse among its 
members. The number of regular 
members is limited to 200. Admission 
fee, $50; annual dues, $50. 

The Club House is at no Wash- 
ington ave., and is very handsomely 
fitted up for the purpo'se. It was 
erected in 1810 by Samuel Hill, a 
hardware merchant, and was one of 
what were for some time the only three 
houses on the hill; the others being 
occupied by the Governor and the 



Mayor, respectively. It was in this 
house that Aaron Burr boarded in 
1824, while engaged in some legal 
business in this city. The club bought 
the house for $30,000 and have spent 
$15,000 or $20,000 in repairs and fur- 
nishing. 

Free Masonry. — The first organi- 
zation of free-masons existing in Al- 
bany, after its settlement, was Lodge 
No. 74 (Registry of Ireland), com- 
posed of officers in the Second bat- 
talion Royal, holding a warrant from 



87 FRE 

members to continue the meetings. 
February 21, 1765, the Provincial 
Grand-Master George Harrison, grant- 
ed tbem a warrant under the name of 
Union Lodge (now Mount Vernon.) 

Henry Andrew Francken came from 
the Island of Jamaica, and on the 20th 
of December, 1767, instituted Ineffable 
and Sublime Grand Lodge of Perfec- 
tion. The original charter of the body 
is still in its possession, and has been 
its only authority from that time to 
this. Grand Council of Princes of 
Jerusalem was organized at the same 




FORT FREDERIC AND ST. PETER's IN I 760. 



the Grand Lodge of Ireland dated 
October 26, 1737. There is every 
evidence that they were scholars and 
gentlemen, as they brought with them 
and kept up a large and valuable 
library of rare books, which they left 
here when the battalion was ordered 
away. Many, if not all the volumes 
are now in the library of the Albany 
Female Academy. 

In April, 1759, the battalion having 
been ordered to some other post, left 
the city. Several citizens had been 
admitted to the lodge during the stay 
of the battalion, and the officers of the 
lodge left authority for the resident 



time. March 5, 1768, Provincial 
Grand-Master George Harrison, grant- 
ed a warrant to Masters' Lodge No. 2 
(now 5.) 

Masters Lodge purchased from the 
city a plot of ground on the N. W. 
corner of Lodge st. and Maiden lane, 
and the city having donated an ad- 
joining piece of ground, a lodge-house 
was erected by Master> Lodge and the 
Ineffable, the corner-stone of which 
was laid with ceremony. May 12, 1768. 
This was the first lodge-house in 
America. The building after comple- 
tion was occupied by the two ]-)odies 
for some years, but the records fail to 



FRI— GAR 



88 



show at what time it was vacated, 
The ground is still the property of 
Masters' Lodge, and has been leased 
to St. Peter's church for a term of 
years. The rectory of the church 
stands upon the ground. 

Temple Lodge No. 53 (now 14) 
was organized November 1 1, 1797. 
Temple Chapter, No. 5, R. A. M., and 
Temple Commandery No. 2, K. T., 
^ were instituted the same year. There 
were no additions to the number of 
bodies until 1824, when Albany Sov- 
ereign Chapter of Rose Croix, and 
Albany Sovereign Consistory were in- 
stituted. Washington Lodge No. 85 
was instituted in 1841; Mount Moriah 
Lodge No. 143, now Ancient City 
Lodge No. 452, in 1852; and Wads- 
worth Lodge No. 417, in 1856; De- 
Witt Clinton Council No. 22, R. & S. 
M., in 1861 ; Capital City Chapter No. 
242, R. A. M., in 1870; Albany Con- 
clave No. 8, Knights of the Red Cross 
of Constantine, in 1872; Guttenberg 
Lodge No. 737, German, in 1873; 
Temple Tabernacle No. 5, U. S. A. K. 
T. P., in 1878. The growth of the 
order has been all that could be de- 
sired, each of the bodies making a 
small percentage of gain each year. 
That they are established on a solid 
basis is evidenced by the fact that all 
bodies instituted, whether more than 
a century ago, or recently, still live and 
have a following. The returns made 
May I, 1849, show the membership to 
have been 117; May i, 1884, the mem- 
bership was 1,359. 

The meetings of all the bodies are 
now held in the granite building owned 
by the Albany Savings Bank, situated 
on the north-west corner of State and 
Chapel sts. There are two lodge 
rooms, a library, an armory, waiting 
and reception rooms, all of which are 
handsomely furnished and admirably 
adapted to the uses of the fraternity. 

The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch 
Masons of the State meets in Albany 



annually on the first Tuesday in Feb- 
ruary, and have done so since 1798. 

For many years the meetings were 
held in the building on the south-west 
corner of Broadway and Steuben St. 
A removal was made in 1861 to 41 and 
43 North Pearl st., in the building oc- 
cupied by W. M. Whitney & Co. The 
removal to the present place of meet- 
ing was made in 1875. Previous to 
the occupancy of the present hall, a 
public parade was made, and the hall 
formally dedicated. The fraternity 
have pubUcly paraded, and laid the 
corner stones of the New Capitol, 
U. S. Custom House, Court House and 
Post Office, and the new City Hall. 

Friendly Few, The, composed of 
the male members of the first four 
classes which graduated from the High 
School. Organized Feb., 1878; meet 
annually; Robert Imrie, pres.; JohnF. 
Montignani, sec; John C. Laing, treas. 

Fruit and Flower Mission, in 

charge of the ladies auxiliary board of 
the Albany City Tract and Alissiouary 
Society. Chairman of the committee, 
Mrs. Adrian Safford, 64 South Hawk 
St.; treas., Mrs. John E. Bradley, 242 
Hamilton st. : sees., Miss Mary W. 01- 
cott, 2 Columbia pi.; Miss Esther 
Mayell, Greenbush. A committee is 
in attendance from 9 to 12 every Tues- 
day and Saturday, in the lecture room, 
Geological Hall, to receive gifts of 
flowers, growing plants, fruits, ice 
cream, biscuit, eggs, and sick room 
delicacies; also illuminated cards and 
reading matter. 

Garbage. — For a long time, hogs 
were considered the best possible scav- 
engers Albany could have, and were 
allowed to run at large; a custom which 
N. P. Willis alluded to as " more Dutch 
than decent," thereby bringing down 
scathing denunciations on his own 
head. On the 9th of April, 1832, 




THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING. 



89 



GAS— GOV 



after much discussion, a law was passed 
restricting swine in their accustomed 
liberties, but it soon became a dead 
letter, and so remained till within com- 
paratively a few years. Garbage is 
now collected by persons who make a 
regular business of it, and it is said find 
it profitable. According to the ordin- 
ance, garbage must be removed at least 
once a week in January, February, 
March, April, November and Decem- 
ber; twice a week in May and October, 
and three times a week in June, July, 
August and September. 

Gas. — The city, north of Steuben 
and Canal sts., above Eagle st. and 
Central ave., is supplied with gas by 
the People's Gas Company, ofiice 664 
Broadway : south of those streets, by 
the Albany Gaslight Company, office 
corner of State and Chapel sts. 

The Albany Gaslight Company 
was incorporated March 27, 1841, and 
the streets were first lighted with gas 
Nov. 10, 1845, This company has now 
a capital of $250,000. Its officers are 
H. H. Martin, pres.; A. Van Allen, 
vice-pres. ; S. W. Whitney, sec. and 
treas.; Isaac Battin, supt. It owns 
and controls about 45 miles of pipes. 
The gas furnished, when burned at the 
ordinary pressure in a burner con- 
suming five feet per hour, is expected 
to give a light equal to that of 19 
sperm candles. The price of gas is 
$2.50 per thousand feet. 

People's Gas Company. — Organized 
March ist, 1880, and is essentially a 
continuation of the People's Gaslight 
Company, which was organized in op- 
position to the old company, in 1872. 
In a short time, however, a compromise 
was arranged, and the city divided 
between the two. The works on the 
Troy road, near North Albany, are 
much larger than are required for the 
share of the business which fell to the 
lot of the new company, and the in- 
vestment failed to pay. In October, 
7 



1879, the property was sold under fore- 
closure of mortgage, was purchased by 
the mortgagees, and the present com- 
pany formed. Its officers are George 
A. Woolverton, pres.; Geo. L. Sted- 
man, vice-pres.; H. Q. Hawley, treas.; 
Gideon Hawley, cashier. Capital, 
$50,000. Bonded debt, $350,000. The 
company has 22 miles of pipe. The 
price of gas is $2.50. 

Geological Hall. — (See Museum 
OF Natural History, State.) 

Government Building, The, by 

which title the U. S. Custom House, 
Court House and Post-office is popu- 
larly known, was authorized by act of 
Congress, March 12, 1872, which limit- 
ed its cost to $350,000, but made no 
appropriation, and required the site to 
be given by the city of Albany. The 
Exchange Building, which covered the 
block bounded by Broadway, State, 
Dean and Exchange sts., was pur- 
chased by the city at a cost of $100,000, 
and presented to the Government for a 
site upon which to erect the new build- 
ing. The site being deemed inad- 
equate, the act of March 3, 1873, ap- 
propriated $150,000 for the purchase 
of the Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank 
property, on the north side of Exchange 
st,, to be added to the site. Subse- 
quently the act of June 23, 1874, ap- 
propriated $5,000 additional for the 
site, making cost of site to the city and 
Government, $255,000. The original 
design of the building was an elaborate 
Gothic structure, estimated to cost 
$750,000. The work of demolishing 
the Exchange building and clearing the 
site was begun in December, 1875, and 
continued until March, 1876. Congress 
having passed an act that no money 
available should be expended or further 
appropriations made for public build- 
ings until a limit had been set to the 
total cost of construction, and having 
failed to set a limit upon the cost of 



GRA 



90 



this building, work was suspended. 
The act of March 3, 1877, limited the 
cost to $500,000. The following June 
work was resumed and carried on with- 
out intermission from that time until 
November, 1883, when the appropria- 
tions having been exhausted the work 
was stopped. The Hmit set upon the 
cost necessitated a new plan, the style 
of which is Italian Renaissance, treated 
to utilize air and light to the necessities 
of the various offices. 

The building is of granite, 113 feet 
on Broadway, 150 feet on State and 
Exchange sts., and 126 feet on Dean 
St.; three stories high, with Mansard 
roof; the towers on each corner being 
carried up an additional story, and the 
south-west or main tower, cor. Broad- 
way and State St., the highest point. A 
high basement under all is used for 
heating apparatus, bonded warehouse, 
and receiving and shipping mail mat- 
ter. The first floor is devoted to post- 
office uses; second to offices for the 
customs and revenue service, and the 
third to the U. S. Courts and officers 
connected therewith. The building 
was first occupied in December, 1883, 
by the revenue officials, and the other 
Government officers took up their 
quarters there before Jan. i, 1884. 

The total cost to Jan. 31, 1884, was 
$524,978.56. The corner stone of the 
building was laid with Masonic cere- 
monies. May 7, 1879. The superin- 
tendents of construction have been 
resident architects. An appropriation 
of $55,000 is needed to complete the 
approaches, put in elevators and finish 
the interior. The work of construction 
is expected to be completed by Jan. i, 
1885. 

Grand Army cf the Republic, 
The, composed of soldiers and sailors 
who served their country in the war of 
the rebellion, is quite strong in this 
city, numbering between 700 and 800. 
The three Posts are Lew Benedict 



Post, 5, organized Jan. 30, 1867; meets 
Thursday evenings at Grand Army hall, 
Green, c. Beaver; Lewis O. Morris Post, 
121, meets every Monday evening, 480 
Broadway; Geo. S. Dawson Post, 63, 
meets third Tuesday in each month, at 
the same place. (Headquarters of 
the department, 132 Pearl st., New 
York City; Dept. Commander, Ira M. 
Hedges, Haverstraw, N. Y.) There is 
also Frederick Townsend Post, No. I, 
Sons of Veterans; and an ex-Prisoners 
ot War association. 

Grave Yards — \Vhen the First 
Reformed church stood in State st., the 
grave yard belonging to it was where 
the old Second Reformed church stood 
on Beaver St., between Green and 
Pearl; and the early settlers are said 
to have been buried there three deep. 
The present site of St. Peter's was once 
a grave yard; so was the land east of 
the cor. of Hudson and Grand; also 
the land south of the cor. of Howard 
and South Pearl; also the s. w. cor. of 
Hamilton and Pearl (the Hallenbeck 
family lot removed in i860.) In 1789 
the lot west of Eagle, between State 
and Lancaster, was appropriated for a 
common burying ground, the churches, 
previous to that time, having had sep- 
arate places of interment. Still later, 
a portion of what is now Washington 
park was used for burial purposes; 
and there was also a place of sepulchre 
on Arbor Hill, between Second and 
Third sts., west of Ten Broeck st., the 
land being given by the Patroon to 
the inhabitants of the town of Colonie 
for burial purposes. St. John's ceme- 
tery (the old one) on Delaware ave., 
south of Morton st., was purchased for 
burial purposes Aug. 28, 1841. (See 
Cemeteries.) 

Gray's Book Store, on State st. 
(Nos. 42 and 44). Almost opposite the 
new Custom House and Post-office 
stands the four-story granite building 



91 



GRE— HAC 



owned by S. R. Gray, and occupied by 
him on the first floor as one of the 
largest and most attractive book stores 
outside of New York city. The house 
was first estabHshed by Mr. Daniel 
Steele, who came from Hartford, Ct., 
in 1793, and opened a book bindery 
on State St., which was burned with its 
contents the following year. The busi- 
ness, however, was soon resumed on 
an enlarged scale with the addition of 
stationery, Bibles, testaments, and other 
books, and from the beginning of the 
present century the general book and 
stationery business has been in success- 
ful operation by the firms in succession. 
Until the year 1850 the business was 
conducted by the family of the founder, 
when it passed from the hands of Mr. 
Daniel Steele Durrie to the new firm 
of Gray & Sprague, who continued the 
trade until 1855, since which time Mr. 
Gray has conducted the business in his 
own name, adding materially to the 
various depar ments and aiming to 
represent the best class of literature, as 
well as giving special attention to 
printing, bookbinding and the manu- 
facture of blank-books. It is here the 
depository of the Bible Society (which 
see) is kept and its publications dis- 
tributed throughout the country. The 
building was erected in 1874-5 and 
covers an area of 35x100 feet. Being 
on the principal thoroughfare to the 
new State Capitol, it naturally attracts 
the attention of strangers visiting the 
city, and is a favorite location for busi- 
ness. The Signal Ser\'ice (which see) 
occupies part of the upper story. 

Greenbush was called Tuscameatic 
by the Indians, but derived its present 
appellation from the Dutch " Greene 
Bosch," or "The Pine Woods." It 
was erected into a township by act of 
Legislature, passed April 10, 1792. 
The village tvas incorporated April 14, 
1 81 5; population, 3,295; of the town, 
6,743; is reached by the new Albany 



and Greenbush bridge. East Albany 
is part of Greenbush. About a mile 
from the bridge is the site of barracks 
erected as a rendezvous for troops in 
the war of 181 2. Provision was made 
for 6,000 soldiers, and there Gen. 
Dearborn, commander-in-chief of the 
United States army, had his head-quar- 
ters for some time. On the same spot 
Abercrombie and Amherst collected 
their troops preparatory to the capture 
of the French fortress on Lake Cham- 
plain. 

Green Street was early spoken of 
as the Vodden market, that is, the Rag 
market; and later as Cheapside. It 
received its present name in honor of 
Gen. Greene of the Revolution, but the 
final e has been dropped. 

Green Street Theatre, erected in 
1812, and opened Jan. 18, 1813, under 
the management of John Bernard; was 
dedicated as a church Jan. i, 1819; 
reopened as a theatre July 5, 1852. 
Sudsequently became a concert hall, 
and here Adah Isaacs Menken first 
appeared in her afterwards famous role 
of Mazeppa. The building was after- 
wards used as a pork-packing estab- 
lishment, but of late has been a 
variety theatre. (For its full history 
see Players of a Century; a Record of 
the Albany Stage. Joseph McDonough, 
Albany, publisher.) 

Hack Fares.— Hacks may be found 
standing on Broadway, between State 
St. and Maiden lane. Prices estab- 
lished by city ordinance, are as follows : 
For each passenger, any distance 
within the paved streets, not exceeding 
one mile, 50 cents (omnibuses, 25 
cents) ; over one mile, and not exceed- 
ing two miles, 75 cents; over two 
miles, and not exceeding three miles, 
$1; to the Alms-house and back, with 
privilege of detaining carriage at Alms- 
house one hour, 32; to Penitentiary 



HAL— HAR 



92 



and back, with privilege of detaining 
carriage at Penitentiary 30 minutes, 
75 cents; attending funeral from any 
part of the city east of Robin st. to any 
public cemetery, $2. In other cases, 
for every hour detained, $i; for the 
first and every additional hour, 75 
cents; or from 8 A. M. to 6 P. M., $S. 
For 128 lbs. baggage, the same rate as 
for a passenger. A card, with " Li- 
censed Hack" and number and name 
of proprietor, must be conspicuously 
displayed inside the vehicle. The re- 
strictions upon hackmen are many. 

Halls. — Albany is without any large 
public hall suitable for state conven- 
tions and other great assemblages. 
The need of it is apparent every year. 
(See Bleecker Hall.) 

Harbor. — The port of Albany ex- 
tends from two miles north of the city 
to two miles south. The depth is from 
600 to 900 feet, the east side being 
shallow. 

The Harbor Master is nominated 
by the Governor, and confirmed by the 
Senate. It is his duty to regulate and 
station all vessels within the limits of 
the port; to prevent them from ob- 
structing the passages to the basin, 
etc. He is paid by fees of one and 
a-half cents per ton per annum; and 
there are also fees for setthng dis- 
putes. Charles H. Winne holds the 
office at present. 

Hardware. — The hardware store of 
Maurice E. Viele, Nos. 39, 41 and 43 
State St., is one of the busiest places in 
Albany, inasmuch as his assortment of 
this kind of goods is as large and com- 
prehensive as any in the entire state, 
not excepting New York city, no single 
house in the metropolis carrying so 
many departments. Mr. Viele began 
business in 1845, having, in connection 
with the late Alexander Davidson, in 
that year bought out the old and well- 



known firm of M, Van Alstyne & Son, 
then doing business cor. State and 
Green sts. In 1851 Davidson & Viele 
bought the stock of Humphrey & Co., 
another old hardware house, and moved 
to Nos. 41 and 43 State St., where 
Humphrey & Co. had carried on the 
business for many years. The firm of 
Davidson & Viele was dissolved in 
1859 by the death of Mr. Davidson. 
Shortly after, Mr. Viele associated with 
him Messrs. Coles and Woodruff, and 
for four years the firm was known as 
Viele, Coles & Woodruff". The two 
latter retired in 1865, since when Mr. 
Viele carried on the business alone 
until 1 88 1, when James O. Hovey, 
Charles H. Turner and WilUam B. 
Wackerhagen, whose energies and 
diligence have so largely helped to 
make the business what it is, became 
and are now partners in the house. 
Mr. Viele purchased the large stock of 
Cantine Tremper, who was doing busi- 
ness cor. of State and James sts., in 
1870; that of Van Santford & Anable 
in 1874, and that of L. Pruyn & Son in 
1875. I^ ^^79 ^^ leased the premises 
No. 39 State St., and the firm now oc- 
cupies all the buildings stated. They 
are five stories, the first being devoted 
to retailing; on the second are samples 
for the wholesale trade which is a 
prominent department, several sales- 
men being constantly upon the road 
taking orders for this house in this and 
adjoining states. The upper stories 
are devoted to storage, and besides, 
Nos. I, 2 and 4 Norton st. are stocked 
with bar and sheet iron, tin, etc. The 
many really ueautiful articles now em- 
braced in the hardware trade make at- 
tractive the large show windows in 
which the display is constantly chang- 
ing. The aggregate of the transactions 
of the 40 years in which Mr. Viele 
has been in business is very great; 
millions of dollars worth of hardware 
and metals have been bought and sold, 
and many hundreds of thousands of 



dollars paid to the numerous employes. 
To properly and successfully conduct a 
business so wide in its scope, requires 
constant industry and vigilance, and 
Mr. Viele is notably one of the busiest 
men in Albany, yet he still finds time 
to further the interests of several of 
the most praiseworthy public enter- 
prises of which the city can boast. Very 
few are now in active business in Al- 
bany who began before Mr. Viele. 

Health, The Board of acts under 
a general state law (Chap. 431, Laws 
of 1 881) which makes it the duty of 
the common council to appoint six 
persons, not members of the council, 
two for one year, two for two years, 
and two for three years, one to be a 
competent physician; successors to be 
appointed for three years. The Mayor 
is ejc officio president of the board. 
The board appoints a health officer 
(who shall be a physician), a secretary 
and three inspectors. They attend to 
the sanitary condition of the city. Re- 
ports of births, marriages and deaths 
are made to the Board. (See Vital 
Statistics.) 

Helderbergs, The, seen apparently 
to the west of the Catskill range, are 
a northern extension of the formations 
constituting the base of these moun- 
tains, and abound in lakes, caves, and 
scenery of great natural beauty. The 
Indian Ladder and Thompson's Lake, 
attract many visitors. 

Herdic Coaches run from Green- 
bush to the Kenmore hotel, between 
7 A. M. and 7 p M., every ten minutes : 
fare to Greenbtish, 6 cents; in the city, 
5 cents. The line was established 
in 1882, 

Holidays. — Upon legal holidays, 
the banks and the public and govern- 
ment offices are closed by law. Notes 
coming due on these days must be met 



93 HEA— HOR 

the day previous. The names and 
dates are : Christmas, Dec. 25 ; New 
Vear's, Jan. I; Washington's Birthday, 
Feb. 22; Decoration, May 30; Inde- 
pendence day, July 4; Election Day, 
the first Tuesday after the first Monday 
in November; and Thanksgiving Day, 
usually the last Thursday in November. 

Horse Cars, The, in this city, are 
run by two companies : The Broadway 
and the Lumber district roads by the 
Watervliet Turnpike and Railroad Com- 
panies; all the others by the Albany 
Railway Company. 

Albany Railway.— Organized Sep- 
tember 24, 1863. Ground was broken 
for the State st. route Nov. 2d of the 
same year. Cars began running Feb. 
22, 1864, and May 9th ground was 
broken for the Pearl st. road to Ken- 
wood. Oftices, 3 and 5 N. Pearl st. 
John W. McNamara, pres. and treas.; 
Robert C. Pruyn, vice-pres.; James H. 
Manning, sec; Alfred Egerton, supt. 
The road owns nine miles of track, 
much of which is double; 38 passen- 
ger cars and 187 horses. Its stables 
are on Central ave., and at the lower 
end of South Pearl st. The uniform 
fare is 6 cents for a single ticket, but 
five tickets are sold for 25 cents. Pas- 
sengers carried last year, 2,427,617. 
There are four lines : 

The West Albany cars start from 
Broadway and State st. at 7 A. M., and 
every half hour till IIP. M., go up 
State past the New Capitol, up Wash- 
ington ave. to Central (leaving passen- 
gers for the park at Knox st.), pass 
near the reservoirs, and reach West 
Albany in 45 minntes from starting. 
Cars run over the same route to Ontario 
St. every ten minutes, from 8 A. M. to 
II P. M., except Sundays, when all cars 
run through to West Albany, starting 
every 15 minutes. 

Hamilton st. line : Leave Tweddle 
Hall for Quail st. at 6, 7, 7.40, 8, 8.40, 
9 A. M., and every 20 minutes after 9 



HOS 94 

A. M. until II P. M. Leave Quail st. 
at 6.30, 7.30, 8.10, 8.30, 9.16 A. M., and 
every 20 minutes after 9.10 a. m. until 
11.30 p. M, Leave Tweddle Hall 
and Knox st. every ten minutes from 
10 A. M. until 9 P. M. This is the direct 
route to the park, and persons who 
have not the time or strength to walk 
through it will get a fine idea of its 
beauties by riding past on this line. 

Pearl st. line : Through cars leave 
Van Woert st. at 7, 7.30, 8, 8.30 a. m. to 
9 P. M., leaving State st. for Kenwood 
every 15 minutes after time of starting 
from Van Woert st. Leave Kenwood 
for city 7.20, 7.50, 8.20 A. M., to 8.20, 
8.40, 9.10, and 9.40 P. M. The 8.40, 
9.10 and 9.40 p. M. cars from Kenwood 
connect with cars to Van Woert st. 
Pearl st. cars leave ist ave. for Van 
Woert St. at 7.10, 7.40, 7.50, 8.10, 8.20, 
8.40, 8.50, A. M., etc., to 10.20 p. M. 
Leave Van Woert st. for ist. ave. 7.40, 
8.10, 8.20, 8.40, 8.50, 9.20 A. M. etc., to 
10.50 p. M. 

Watervliet Turnpike and Rail- 
road. — Office at North Albany. Chas. 
ISfewman, president; James B. Jer- 
main, vice-president; T. P. Way, treas- 
urer and secretary; M. C. Foster, su- 
perintendent. Chartered April 15, 1862. 
Cars began running in 1863. There 
are two routes — one branching from 
Broadway into the Lumber district (fare 
6 cents) ; the other continuing to West 
Troy; through fare, 8 cents; in city 
and to cemetery, 5 cents; time for 
whole trip, 70 minutes; number of cars, 
27; of horses, 143. North Albany, 
Cemetery, Old Men's Home, Island 
Park and Watervliet arsenal are reached 
by this route. 

Hospitals, Dispensaries, etc. — Al- 
bany is well supplied with institutions 
of this sort, as will be seen by the 
following : 

Albany Hospital, Eagle st., cor. of 
Howard, incorporated April 14, 1849, 
was founded by private subscription. 



and first occupied the buildings cor. 
of Dove and Lydius sts. The present 
building (formerly the county jail) 
was remodeled at a cost of $21,135.69, 
besides a payment to the County 
Treasurer of $8,395. It was occupied 
in Aug., 1854. In 1872 a large addi- 
tion was built, with all the latest im- 
provements, at a cost of over $30,000. 
The wards will accommodate 75, and 
the private rooms, 50 patients. The 
De Witt ward for children has 6 beds. 
The whole hospital, through the in- 
terest taken by different churches and 
the beneficence of its friends, is fitted 
and furnished like a home. The 
medical and surgical staff is composed 
of 18 of the best physicians in the city 
— two of whom are in attendance every 
day — besides three resident physicians. 
Patients taking private rooms may be 
attended by their own physicians, and 
have the advantages of careful nursing 
and diet. The charge for ward pa- 
tients is $4 to $6 per week, and for 
private rooms from $g to $15. The 
total number treated last year was 767. 

Charity patients are admitted by per- 
mits from the overseer of the poor, 
or upon application to the officers of 
the hospital. The management is 
composed of a board of fifteen govern- 
ors, who are elected annually by the 
members of the corporation. A gift of 
$50 entitles the donor to a vote for 
life. During year ended March i, 
1884, the city paid the hospital $3,883 
for the care of its sick, at $4 per week 
per patient, while the average cost 
is $6. 

The present officers of the Board of 
Governors are, Rufus W. Peckham, 
pres.; Henry Kelly, sec; Edwin Saf- 
ford, treas. 

The Albany Hospital Dispensary 
is under the immediate control of the 
Governors, and care of the medical 
staff of the hospital. From March i, 
1883, to March i, 1884, 5,976 patients 
were treated, and most of them pro- 







lm-%M 



<yi^ 







0\ /c. 










V' 



r 






r-tr^ 



(^ '' ^ '\ >^ "***^ '^- 



95 



HOT 



vided with medicine one or more times 
without charge. 

St. Peter's Hospital, cor, of Broad- 
way and North f'erry St.; in charge of 
the Sisters of Mercy. The building 
was erected by the Patroon, for his son 
Stephen Van Rensselaer, who occu- 
pied it for many years. It was enlarged 
and opened as a hospital in November, 
1869, the family of Peter Cagger, de- 
ceased, contributing largely towards the 
enterprise. No one is excluded on 
account of religious belief or unbelief. 
Those who are able, pay according to 
the accommodations furnished. A cer- 
tain number of free beds are also main- 
tained. The proximity of the hospital 
to the railroad causes many cases of 
accident to be taken there. 

St. Peter's Dispensary, at St. Pe- 
ter's Hospital. Opened in 1869, since 
which time over 20,000 persons have 
been treated gratuitously. 

Child's Hospital. — Hawk below 
Elk; in charge of the Sisters of the 
Holy Child Jesus. Opened March 26, 
1875. Can accommodate 75 patients. 
Any suffering child that can be helped 
by hospital treatment mav be admitted. 
Number of patients May ist, 69; 
supported by contributions from indi- 
viduals and churches, an appropriation 
from the common council, and a small 
amount from outside towns an^ coun- 
ties. The hospital had its beginning 
in a very small way, nine years ago, 
and has grown from the two crippled 
children with which it started, and from 
the small and uncomfortable house, 
rented from month to month, to its 
present proportions. It occupies two 
excellent buildings, built for the pur- 
pose, one of which has been enlarged 
to double its original size. The Sisters 
have charge also of a Child's Convales- 
cent Home in Saratoga, and of a Child's 
Nursery for Babies under a year old, 
and of sick babies, with a free dispen- 
sary for children. This institution is a 
part of the Christian work undertaken 



by the Cathedral of All Saints ('see 
Episcopal Churches) under the di- 
rection of the Bishop. The Diocesan 
Sisterhood have the care and nursing 
of the children, but the hospital is 
under the management of a board of 
ladies representing many congregations. 
The services of the doctors and sur- 
geons have been gratuitous. Over 150 
children have been treated during the 
past year, and many of them saved 
from being life-long cripples, or from 
total blindness. 

Swinburne Dispensary. — At No. 
123 Beaver street. Established in 1878 
by John Swinburne, M. D., for treatment 
of poor patients, and has been carried 
on by him without a dollar of outside 
aid. Up to May i, 1884, it is estimated 
that 80,000 patients had been treated, 
60,000 of whom were indigent. Over 
10,000 injured persons have received 
aid. The institution is now under the 
management of Drs. Paris and Bowen. 

Albany City Homceopathic Hos- 
pital, 123 North Pearl street; char- 
tered in 1872, was consolidated in 
1875 with the dispensary (incorporated 
in 1868). Supported by voluntary 
contributions and some aid from the 
city. The medical staff includes the 
leading homceopathic physicians of the 
city. Amos P. Palmer, pres.; Nathan 
B. Perry, vice-pres.; E. A. Groesbeck, 
sec; J. H. Ten Eyck, treas. Trustees, 
W. L. Jenison, Edgar Cotrell, J. H. 
Ten Eyck, Geo. W. Gibbons, B. C. 
Gilbert, F. E. Griswold, R. W. Thacher, 
E. DeL. Palmer. A. J. Bond, M. D., 
resident physician. Mrs. S. Denmead, 
matron. 

Hotels. — The Delavan was erected 
in 1844-5, and started as a temperance 
house, the owner, E. C. Delavan, being 
a famous apostle of temperance. Stan- 
wax Hall stands on the site of the 
house where was born Gen. Ganse- 
voort, the hero of Fort Stanwix, and 
was erected in 1833 by his son. It was 



HOW— IND 



first used for business offices, but in 
1844 was converted into a hotel. The 
Kenmore, erected in 1878, was run till 
the time of his death by Adam Blake, 
a colored man, long the landlord of 
Congress Hall, which stood in front 
of the New Capitol. 

Howe's Cave, 39 miles from Al- 
bany, on Susquehanna division D. & 
H. C. Co. R. R., is one of the most re- 
markable natural curiosities in the 
United States; for beauty, variety and 
extent it is only equaled by the Mam- 
moth Cave of Kentucky, while it has 
the advantage of being more conveni- 
ent of access, as the entrance is im- 
mediately at the railroad station. The 
cave is lighted by gas from the mouth 
to the lake; visitors are furnished with 
costumes and torches, and are accom- 
panied by guides; the temperature of 
the cave is about 60 deg. Fahr., the 
year through. 

Hudson Avenue. — One of the prin- 
cipal avenues leading to the park; is 
paved with granite block, the Nichol- 
son pavement put down several years 
since having proved a failure. The 
easy grade makes it a favorite route 
for teamsters going up the hill. The 
valley through which it runs was once 
the course-way of the Rutten kill. 
From 1844 to 1847, from 50 to 250 
persons and 60 teams were employed 
in filling up the ravine from Hawk to 
Lark sts., which was 300 feet broad 
and 50 feet deep. It was here that 
the last public execution in Albany 
took place, Aug. 24, 1827, when Jesse 
Strang was hanged for the murder of 
John Whipple. Over 30,000 people 
gathered on the hillsides to witness the 
tragic scene. The Hudson Avenue 
Methodist and First Baptist churches 
are on this street, and cor. of Eagle st. 
is the picturesque State Armory. At 
the cor. of Broadway, now occupied 
by the Commercial Building, once 



stood the old Stadt Huis (which see.) 
This avenue, from Broadway to Pearl 
street, was widened and straightened 
at a cost of $74,965 in 1881-2. 

Hudson River. — ^This, the most 
beautiful of rivers, has been known by 
many names. Beside its various In- 
dian appellations, it was called by 
Hudson himself. Great River of the 
Mountains; by the Dutch settlers. 
Great North River of the New Nether- 
lands (to distinguish it from the South, 
or Delaware river), and the North 
river it is still sometimes called. The 
Dutch also called it the Mauritius, or 
Prince Maurice's river, after Maurice 
of Nassau, Prince of Orange, and it 
was known as such till the English 
changed it to its present title, Hudson 
having been an Englishman. 

At Albany.— The mean-tide at Al- 
bany is 2.46 feet above that at Govern- 
or's Island; the mean rise and fall is 
2.32 feet. At mean low water, boats 
can carry an average of nine feet, the 
channel depth from State st. bridge to 
a mile south varying from 9 to 18 feet. 

At Van Wie's point, four miles be- 
low the city, where the observations 
were taken, the tidal current is a little 
less than two feet a second in mid 
stream; the mean velocity of the entire 
river is three-fourths of a foot a second, 
ebb tide estimates. About $30,000 is 
annually appropriated by the legisla- 
ture for dredging the river between 
Coxsackie and Troy. See Navigation. 

Industrial School, The, on Beaver 
St., near Daniel, is under the care of 
the Children's Friend society, which 
was organized in 1856, and incorpor- 
ated April 7, 1863. The managers 
seek to gather into the school vagrant 
children who, from poverty or vice of 
parents, are unable to attend the pub- 
lic schools, and to instruct them in 
morals, industry and the elements of 
learning. Girls are received between 



97 



the ages of 4 and 15; boys, 4 to 14. 
They are given one good meal a day. 
The articles of clothing, etc., made by 
them in learning to sew, are distributed 
as rewards for good behavior. The 
school is supported by individual and 
church contributions and sales of arti- 
cles. Number of scholars, 160. The 
new building cost, including ground, 
$15,500, was completed and dedicated 
in the spring of 1884, and is free from 
debt. Mrs. John L. Winne, Mrs. S. H. 
Freeman, directors; Miss Agnes Pruyn, 
treas.; ^Iiss Monteath, sec. 

Inspectors of Steam Vessels, 
Local, district of Albany, office in Gov- 
ernment Building; Inspectors, Charles 
S. Harvey, Leonard Brainard. They 
inspect hulls, engines and boilers and 
licence masters, mates, pilots and en- 
gineers. The district comprises the 
upper Hudson above Milton; in all, 
passenger, towing and freight, about 
200 steamers, not including those of 
the People's line, which belong to the 
New York district. 

Internal Revenue, U. S. — The 

headquarters of the 14th district United 
States Internal Revenue is in the Gov- 
ernment Building, James W. Bentley 
collector. The district comprises the 
counties of Albany, Schenectady, Sara- 
toga, Schoharie, Montgomery, Fulton, 
Hamilton, Green, Ulster, Orange, Sul- 
livan and Rockland, the last named 
five counties having bSen added to Ihe 
district Aug. i, 1883, when the number 
of districts in the state was reduced to 
seven. The average yearly collections 
are about $600,000. Nine deputies, 
three clerks and six gaugers are em- 
ployed. 

Island Park. — A race course on the 
east of the Troy road. 

Italians. — The Italian colony in Al- 
bany consists of some twenty-five 



INS— JFW 

families. They are a quiet, inoffensive 
people, the most of them poor, but 
some are well-to-do. Services are held 
especially for them in the Church of 
Our Lady of Angels, and they have 
a benevolent society. (See Benevolent 
Societies.) 

Jail, The, 74 Maiden lane, east of 
City Hall, and connected to that build- 
ing by a bridge, was first occupied by 
prisoners June 2, 1853. One week 
later, the grand jury condemned it as 
being an unsafe place of detention for 
expert rogues, a verdict which exper- 
ience has often verified. The jailor, 
appointed by the sheriff, receives a sal- 
ary of $1,500 and house rent. 

Jews.— There are about 3,000 He- 
brews in this city, most of them German, 
although a few are Bohemians, a few 
Poles and a few French. With the 
exception of the limited number who 
worship at Beth El Jacob in Fulton St., 
they are mostly the Reformed Jews, that 
is, they conform in most things to the 
ideas of the present age ; all, however, 
observe the right of circumcision (in 
males), the day of atonement; and 
most of them are careful to eat no 
pork nor any meat not killed in the 
Jewish method, which is by cutting the 
jugular vein in the first place, not after 
the animal is knocked down. In this 
way all the blood is drained from the 
carcass, and many besides Jews con- 
sider such meat more wholesome. The 
killing is done by a slayer, who also 
examines each animal carefully, and if 
diseased or blemished it is rejected. 
The Hebrew Sabbath begins Friday 
night and lasts from even to even. 
Public services are held in the syna- 
gogues Friday night and Saturday 
morning. Most of the Jews read 
Hebrew, although all do not speak it. 
As citizens, they are very orderly, the 
appearance of one in the police court 
being an unusual sight. They care for 



KEN— KIT 



98 



their own poor, and among themselves 
are very sociable and domestic in their 
habits. (See Adelphi Club.) 

They maintain a benevolent society 
which collects and distributes about 
^1,500 annually, and there is a Jewish 
Home association with a membership 
of 250, and a fund of $2,200. The in- 
terests of this fund and the dues of the 
members serve to give a home to the 
indigent, old and infirm in some fam- 
ily. The erection of a permanent 
home is postponed until the funds 
will allow it. 

Synagogues. 

Anshe Emeth.^ — South Pearl St., 
opp. Herkimer. Rev. Max Schlesin- 
ger, pastor. This is the largest and 
handsomest Hebrew place of worship 
in the city. The society was organized 
in 1850, with Dr. Isaac M. Wise as 
rabbi, and now embraces about 150 
families. Services held here consist of 
prayers, reading of the law, music and 
a sermon, the latter in EngUsh or Ger- 
man, the prayers and reading in He- 
brew. A Sunday-school is held on 
Sunday. 

Beth El. — South Ferry st. cor. of 
Franklin. Rev. Adolph Friedmann, 
pastor. Partially organized in 1832, 
but did not take the name till 1838, 
when a building was procured on Her- 
kimer St. The society is, , therefore, 
the oldest of the sect in this city. It 
was without a rabbi till 1854, when 
Sampson Falk officiated as such. In 
1864 the South Ferry Street Methodist 
Church was bought, dedicated Jan. 20, 
1865, and has since served them as a 
synagogue. They were considered as 
orthodox, till, under the ministration of 
Rev. Louis A. Son, they adopted the 
Minhag ritual of Rev. Dr. Wise. 

Bbth El Jacob. — The synagogue 
of the orthodox Jews, in Fulton St., 
above Madison ave. Rev. Destillator, 
pastor. This society is very small, but 
the traditions of the race are observed 
here more carefully than elsewhere. 



The women sit apart from the men, 
and each member, during the service, 
wears around his neck a woolen scarf 
called the Talitth. The pastor is also 
the " slayer," before mentioned, and 
not only kills animals in certain slaugh- 
ter-houses, but chickens, turkeys, etc., 
for private families, having a regular 
route for that purpose. 

Kenwood. — At the southern termi- 
nus of the South Pearl street railroad, 
on the Normans kill, about two miles 
from State street. The convent of the 
Sacred Heart is near here. 

King's Arms. — A tavern which 
stood, in colonial times, north-west cor. 
of what are now Green and Beaver 
streets. The sign which bore the 
effigy of King George, was torn down 
in an outburst of patriotism and burnt 
in State street. 

Kitchen Garden. — In charge of a 
committee of the ladies' auxiliary board 
of the City Tract and Missionary So- 
ciety, Mrs. A. Rathb n, supt.; Mrs. 
Wm. L. Learned, sec. and treas. Holds 
sessions at City Mission rooms, No. 9 
North Pearl street, Saturday afternoons, 
at 4 o'clock. Is preparatory to the 
Cooking School (which see). Num- 
ber of pupils, 50. Their tuition, ^2 
each, is paid by benevolent ladies, and 
also covers a course of instruction in 
the cooking school. They are taught 
the duties of thel%ousehold with minia- 
ture utensils. 

Law School, The Albany, a branch 
of Union University. On State street 
above Swan. Was organized April 
21, 1 85 1. W. L. Learned, pres. ; Rufus 
W. Peckham, vice-pres. ; Charles J. 
Buchanan, sec; Horace E.Smith, dean. 
More than three thousand students have 
attended the school since its organiza- 
tion, and its graduates number many 
eminent men in the legal profession. 



99 



LAG 



Lager Beer. — Twenty years ago 
lager beer was almost unheard of out- 
side of Germany. To-day it may be 
called the national drink of America, 
so generally is it consumed by those 
who use alcoholic beverages of any 
kind. For many years Albany had 
been noted for its ale, but it was not 
till 1878 that it became equally famous 
for lager. True, the drink had previ- 
ously been made here in a small way, 
but that year saw the completion of 
the Beverwyck, which is unquestion- 
ably the model lager beer brewery of 
the United States, if not of the world. 
Its reputation as such is wide spread, 
and attracts hundreds of visitors from 
all over the country. 

The partners in the Beverwyck 
Brewing Co. were experienced in the 
manufacture of ale and porter, of 
which they had made, and (under the 
style of Quinn & Nolan) still make, 
large quantities; but quick to respond 
to the demand for a lighter and more 
sparkling beverage, they erected the 
colossal structure on North Ferry street 
for the production of lager beer only. 
The accompanying cut makes a de- 
scription of the exterior unnecessary, 
save to say that, architecturally, it is 
altogether the finest building devoted 
to manufacturing purposes in the city 
— the imposing belfry and clock-tower, 
and the heroic statue of " Gambrinus " 
attracting special attention. Inside, 
everything has been arranged appa- 
rently without regard to cost, but with 
the sole view to utility and the perfec- 
tion of detail. The first floor, used as 
the engine and pump-room, is paved 
with Vermont slate, purple and green, 
and from it the centre is open like the 
grand hall of some great hotel or li- 
brary, while the handsome balustrades 
give the effect of galleries rising tier 
upon tier to the lofty roof. Directly in 
the centre is an artesian well 230 feet 
deep, from which water is drawn to 
supply the coolers. Pumps of the most 



approved patterns for pumping beer, 
air, ice-water, and for the boilers, etc., 
are arranged around the room; all the 
machinery being nickle-plated, and 
shining like a service of silver. Per- 
fect neatness, order and discipline pre- 
vail everywhere. Two great copper 
kettles in which the beer is brewed, 
holding 180 barrels each, and alone 
costing $20,000, extend from the sec- 
ond to the third stories, and are double 
hammered and polished, as is all the 
copper-work about the concern. This 
affords some idea of the magnitude 
upon which the establishment is con- 
structed, but an elaborate description 
cannot here be given. Two boilers, 
each of 100 horse-power, and furnish- 
ed with every protection known to 
science against accident, are detached 
from the main structure in an iron 
building. The storage capacity is 60,- 
000 barrels; the brewing capacity of 
the establishment, 90,000 barrels per 
annum. The sale of Beverwyck lager 
is very extended and constantly in- 
creasing. Its distribution about the 
city is by means of a well stocked 
stable of forty horses of the finest 
Kentucky, Ohio and Wayne county 
(N. Y.) stock, with wagons and trucks 
corresponding in strength and dura- 
bility. Such a concern as this must 
have some inspiration and guiding 
spirit, and both of these are found in 
the president and treasurer of the Bev- 
erwyck Brewing Company, Hon. M.N. 
Nolan, a man whom the world calls 
"lucky; " and so he is, but it is the 
luck which comes, and comes only, 
from a combination of indomitable 
purpose, resistless force, and superior 
executive capacity. Mr. Nolan has 
served two terms as Mayor of Albany, 
having been re-elected by an over- 
whelming majority. During his second 
term his great, popularity led to his 
being chosen Representative from this 
district to the Forty-seventh Congress 
of the United States, and he served in 



LAW— LEG 



the capacity both of Mayor and Con- 
gressman at the same time, the only 
instance of the kind on record. Mr. 
Nolan is ably assisted by Mr. M. 
Schrodt, a native of Altheim, Hesse- 
Darmstadt, who has been for many 
years connected with the business; five 
years as secretary of the company. Jan. 
1 , 1 884, he was elected to the responsible 
position of General Manager, the vacan- 
cy in the secretaryship, caused by his 
promotion, being filled by Mr. Augustus 
Kampfer, of long experience and well- 
tried ability as head book-keeper in the 
concern. The cost of the Beverwyck 
brewery was $350,000. It was built 
by the celebrated architect and mill- 
wright, Mr. Charles Stoll, of Brooklyn, 
N. Y., and reflects great credit both 
upon him and upon the supervising 
architect, Mr. Walter Dickson, of 
Albany. 

Law Books. — A large business is 
done in Albany in the publication of 
law books. The leading firm is Banks 
and Brothers (David and A. Bleecker), 
473 and 475 Broadway. This house 
was founded by the father of the pres- 
ent proprietors in 1804. At ihe time 
of his death, in 1872, he was the oldest 
book seller in the United States. The 
ware-house and sales rooms in this city 
have a total floor space of nearly 
80,000 square feet. There is another 
large store belonging to the firm at 144 
Nassau st. New York, and has been 
occupied by them since 1835. No firm 
in the United States engaged in this 
business is better known. The cata- 
logue of law books published exclu- 
sively by Banks Bros, is one of the 
most extensive and contains works of 
greater value than almost any other 
that can be named. Their publications 
are to be found in nearly all the large 
libraries in the country, and are sold to 
the legal profession in all parts of the 
world. Mr. A. Bleecker Banks is the 
present mayor of Albany. 



Legislature, The, meets annually 
on the first Tuesday in January, at the 
Capitol. The senate consists of 32 
members, elected biennially; the as- 
sembly of 128 members, elected annu- 
ally; salaries, 51,500. Albany county 
constitutes the 17th senatorial district, 
and sends four members to the assem- 
bly : First dist., ist, 2d, 3d and 15th 
wards of Albany, and towns of Bethle- 
hem, Berne, Coeymans, Rensselaerville 
and Westerlo; Second dist., loth, nth, 
14th, 1 6th and 17th wards of Albany, 
and towns of Guilderland, Knox and 
New Scotland; Third dist., 4th, 5th, 
6th, 7th, 8th, 1 2th, 13th and part of the 
9th wards of Albany; Fourth dist., the 
remainder of the 9th ward of Albany, 
Cohoes and Watervliet. Adjournments 
of the Legislature have been as fol- 
lows : 



831 April 26 

832 July 2 

833 April 30 

834 May 6 

835 May II 



1859- 
i860. 



May 26 
May 16 
April 18 
May 7 
May 14 
May 26 
April 12 
April 18 
May 7 
845 May 14 



1863. 
1864. 
1865. 
1866. 
1867. 



844. 



846. 
847t. 



849.. 
850.. 
851I. 
852.. 
853§. 
854.. 
855.- 
856.. 

857- • 



May 
May 13 
April 12 
April II 
April 10 
April 17 
April 16 
July 21 
April 17 
April 14 
April 9 
April 18 



April 19 
April 19 
April 17 
April 16 
April 23 
April 25 
April 23 
April 28 
April 20 
April 20 
May 6 
May 10 
April 26 
April 21 
M ay 14 
May 30 
April 30 



1870.., 
1871... 
1872... 
1873.- 

1874.., _ _ 

1875 May 22 

1876 May 3 

187711 May 24 

1878 May 15 

1879 May 22 

1880 May 27 

1881 July 23 

1882 May 2 

1883 May 4 

1884 May 16 



* An extra session was held from August 
1 2th to September 7th, to rearrange the Con- 
gress districts under the census of 1840. 

t Recess to September 8th, when the Legis- 
lature reconvened for the transaction of regular 
business, and was in session until December 
15th. 

X The session was suddenly terminated by 
the resignation of twelve Senators, on account 



Leland Opera House. — Stands on 
the site of the theatre erected in 1824- 
5, on S. Pearl St., between Beaver and 
Hudson ave., and opened May 13th of 
the latter year, under the manage- 
ment of Charles Gilfert; turned into 
a church in 1839, (see Episcopal 
Churches.) Opened as a theatre in 
1863, (see Academy of Music;) re- 
built by Lucien Barnes, and opened 
Dec. 30, 1869. It is well arranged 
both for actors and audience. Seating 
capacity, 1,298. For further history 
see " Players of a Century; a Record 
of the Albany Stage." Jos. McDonough, 
Albany, publisher. 

Present Management. — ^The pres- 
ent manager is Mrs. Rosa M. Leland, 
who for the past three seasons has 
demonstrated perfectly that a woman 
can run a theatre successfully in every 
respect; provided she has the tact, en- 
terprise, and necessary experience. 
Mrs. Leland (prior to her marriage), 
was a successful actress, and in that 
capacity acquired a knowledge of what 
is neccessary for proper stage effect, 
attainable in no other way. Her wide 
acquaintance with the profession, and 
that which is best in it, added to 
natural executive abiUty, has had much 
also to do with her success. The uni- 
form opinion of press and public 
has been that never has Albany had 
a better theatre than under her man- 
agement. Plays of the best order, 
actors of the highest rank have been 
seen at the Leland in quick succession. 
The season opened in September and 
closed in May, presents a continued 
round of attractions; and strangers in 



of opposition to a certain canal measure. The 
vacancies thus created having been filled by 
special elections, an extra session was called 
by the Governor to complete the unfinished 
business, for June loth, which was concluded 
July II. 

§ A recess was had from April 15 to May 24. 

II The Senate sal at Saratoga Springs from 
July 18 to August 18 for the trial of Bank 
Superintendent Ellis. 



•I LEL— LIT 

town find nowhere pleasanter enter- 
tainment, or more courteous treatment 
than at the Leland opera house. 

Liberal Association, Albany. — 

Meets Sunday afternoons and evenings 
in Van Vechten Hall, No. 119 State st, 
Sunday-school in the afternoon, (Mrs. 
lUohan, supt.) followed by social meet- 
ing. In the evening, lectures and dis- 
cussions upon scientific, social and 
theological questions, upon a free plat- 
form. Wm. H. Williams, pres. 

Libraries. —The only public libra- 
ries in Albany are the State library, 
the Y. M. A. library, the Albany In- 
stitute library (see separate heads), 
and the Public School library. The 
latter is in the High School building, 
and numbers about 5,500 volumes. 
It is free to all; but certificates to use 
it have to be obtained from the board 
of public instruction. _j 

Licenses. — Heretofore very little 
money has been turned into the city 
treasury for licenses except from the 
liquor business. Under the revised or- 
dinances, theatres may pay $25 a year, 
travelling shows $5 a day, circuses, etc., 
$100 a day, but the Mayor may reduce 
these at his discretion. Bill-posters 
and vendors are also to be licensed, 
but the rates have not yet (May, 1884) 
been fixed by the common council. 

Literary and Scientific Societies. 

— Among the literary and scientific so- 
cieties of the city are the following : 

Beck Literary Society, composed 
of students of the Albany Academy, 
and occupies rooms in that building. 
Founded Dec. 1 1, 1857. Regular 
meetings, Friday afternoons. Officers 
elected three times a year. 

Dana Natural History Society. — 
Meets first Tuesday of every month, in 
Female Academy. Organized Nov. 19, 
1868, by 62 ladies; object, study of 



LIT— LUM 



1 02 



nature, and collecting a library and 
cabinet to aid in this study. Papers are 
read, scientific subjects discussed and 
recent discoveries in science presented 
at every meeting. Classes in special 
topics of study are formed in the win- 
ter, and occasional courses of lectures 
are given. Field meetings are held in 
summer and autumn. The successive 
presidents have been : Miss Lottie Tit- 
comb, elected 1868; Mrs. David A. 
Thompson, 1869; Mrs. Wm. Barnes, 
1870; Mrs. Daniel J. Pratt, '187 1-2; 
Mrs. Arthur Bott, 1873; Mrs. John E. 
Bradley, 1874-5; Mrs. Jonathan Ten- 
ney, 1875-81 ; Mrs. Robert D. Wil- 
liams, 1882-3. Present officers: Mrs. 
R. D. Williams, pres.; Miss Hattie E. 
Ludington, rec. sec; Miss Anna Mc- 
Naughton, cor. sec; Miss Julia S. 
Hoag, treas. ; Mrs. J. B. Jump, curator 
of cabinet; Mrs. E. M. Millard, libra- 
rian; Mrs. J. Tenney, chairman execu- 
tive committee. Annual meeting, last 
Tuesday in November. Present mem- 
bership, about 50. (See Albany In- 
stitute.) 

Literature. — Albany has contribu- 
ted something to literature as well as 
Art (which see). Bret Harte, whom 
the glorious climate of California ripen- 
ed into a poet and sketch writer of rare 
genius, was born in Albany. And if 
Henry James, Jr., was not, his father 
was. John G. Saxe, although a native 
of Vermont, has long resided here. 
Alfred B. Street, a poet as minute in 
detail as painters of the Dutch school, 
passed all his literary life here. Here 
Amos Dean wrote his History of Civil- 
ization, and William B. Sprague his 
Annals of the American Pulpit. Leon- 
ard Kip and Philander Deming, both 
pleasing story tellers, reside here, as 
does Irving Browne, who possesses 
the rare gift of turning even law into 
literature. 

Lumber District. — Albany is prob- 



ably the oldest lumber market in the 
United States. The towns on the 
banks of the Hudson, after exhausting 
the timber in their vicinity, sought the 
upper portions of the river for suppHes. 
Saw mills were there erected, and 
boards and scantling were rafted down 
to this place, hauled out of the water 
and piled on the bank, thus forming 
the first lumber yards in Albany. One 
of these was below South Ferry St., 
and the other near the foot of Quack- 
enbush St., and between that and 
Lumber St., now called Livingston ave. 
The sloops, which were the only crafts 
that plied the river, hauled in as close- 
ly as possible to the shore, and to load 
them, men carried out the lumber on 
their shoulders, through the water or 
over cribs of timber. When the Erie 
and Champlain canals were completed, 
all this was changed; lumber was 
brought down on boats (then carrying 
but thirty to fifty thousand feet), the 
Albany Pier and the wharves which 
were built for the Albany Basin afford- 
ed storage room enough for the lum- 
ber, which was then principally received 
from the northern and central portions 
of the State. Soon the extension of 
the trade to Canada and the western 
lakes required more room, and as the 
canal ran nearly parallel with the river, 
slips were excavated from the canal 
towards the river, and the spaces be- 
tween became lumber- yards. As the 
business increased these were contin- 
ued until they now reach 1 5 miles from 
canal lock No. i, having an average 
distance between the river and canal 
of about 1,000 feet and forming the 
Lumber District. The length of dock- 
age including the river front is about 
ten miles. Here the pine of Canada 
and the spruce and hemlock of north- 
ern New York, first meet the pine of 
Michigan and the hardwoods of the 
M'est, giving a full assortment, and 
vessels carry it to the east and south, 
from Maine to Florida. 



I03 



LUM 



Advantages. — Although the rail- 
roads are competing for the trade east 
and south, and the larger canal boats 
(carrying 150 to 200 M.) freight a con- 
siderable quantity through to New York 
and vicinity, the unequaled facilities 
for storage till seasoned, for handling 
and selecting into sizes and qualities 
and the complete assortment of all 
kinds found here, with the capital, 
capacity and character of the dealers, 
have enabled Albany to hold the 
greater part of the trade, and it is the 
largest lumber mart east of the Alle- 
ghanies. 

In addition to the lumber received 
here, the Albany dealers sell large 
quantities which go through direct, 
without breaking bulk, to New York, 
New Jersey, etc., which are not inclu- 
ded in the reported receipts at Albany, 
but are embraced in gross receipts at 
tide-water. Besides the receipts by 
canal, a large amount of lumber, and 
particularly of shingles and clap-boards, 
are received here by rail; but there is 
no data from which the precise amount 
can be obtained. The sales of lumber 
shipped by rail, after the close of river 
navigation, are increasing every year 
and now reach large proportions. 

By a vote of the citizens of the State, 
the canals were in 1883 made hereafter 
free from tolls. Railroads were com- 
peting for the transportation of the pro- 
ducts of the great West, and this mea- 
sure was necessary, if New York was 
to maintain her position as the largest 
commercial State of the Union. The 
result has justified the anticipation of 
the people. Notwithstanding the low 
rates which contending lailroads gave 
their customers, the receipts of lumber 
by canal show an increase over those 
of former years; and the stability of 
Albany's position as the largest lumber 
market of the East is still maintained. 
The sales in 1883 were 457,189,308 ft. 
of measured and tally lumber, which 
with shingles, lath, pickets and clap- 



boards, give an estimated value of 
^10,250,000. 

The conveniences for doing business 
in the district are unrivalled. A street 
railroad runs to and throiigh it; tele- 
graph and telephone lines afford im- 
mediate communication; large planing 
mills are ready to quickly dress lumber 
in every way and to any amount, and 
good, clean dining halls await the wants 
of customers. Hydrants at regular in- 
tervals, with a full supply and heavy 
head of water, and hose for immediate 
use, are ready for the extinguishment 
of fires. It is a remarkable fact that 
during the last fifty years the damage 
by fire in the district, north of Ferry 
street, has not exceeded $6,000, and 
yet there is no place in the world 
where so large an amount of lumber in 
contiguous piles can be found. The 
view of the district from the Shaker 
road, the boulevard, or the hills oppo- 
site the city, is one of the sights of 
Albany. 

The Board of Lumber Dealers 
was organized in 1863; incorporated 
May, 1869; has an arbitration commit- 
tee with power to settle disputes be- 
tween members and upon the award a 
judgment of the supreme court shall 
be rendered, which shall not be re- 
moved, reversed, or modified. It is to 
the honor of the dealers that these ex- 
traordinary powers have never been 
required nor exercised. Twenty-five 
firms belong to the board. Officers 
elected annually. Following are the 
names of the presidents since 1863: 
Henry Q. Hawley, Wm. N. F'assett, 
Wm. H. Ross, Benjamin A. Towner, 
Douglas L. White, Wm. G. Thomas, 
Oscar L. Hascy, James O. Towner, 
Ezra G. Benedict, Charles P. Easton, 
James E. Craig, Eli C. Clark, Jr., Henry 
S. Van Santford, James B. Kelly, Dean 
Sage, Joshua Rathbun, Lemon Thom- 
son, John C. Hubbell, Charles B. 
Nichols, Samuel B. Towner. 

Present officers : John McDonald, 



LUT 



104 



pres.; C. W. Easton, vice-pres.; Wal- 
ter G. White, treas.; Wm. N. Fassett, 
sec; James E. Craig, Oscar L. Hascy, 
Austin E. Kibbee, managers; Samuel 
B. Towner, E. G. Benedict, John C. 




FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH 

Hubbell, Robert L. Fryer, H. S. Van 
Santford, arbitration committee. 



Lutheran Chiirches. — With one 

exception, the Lutheran churches in 
this city are German This is the 



First Lutheran, cor. Lodge and 
Pine sts.. Rev. George W. Miller, D. 
D., pastor. Next to the Reformed 
Dutch, this is the oldest church organi- 
zation in the city, and the Albany Lu- 
theran congregation is 
the oldest of that de- 
nomination in America, 
although the precise date 
of its establishment can- 
not be ascertained. The 
first edifice was built in 
1668 or '70, on the site 
of the present City Build- 
ing, S. Pearl St., and was 
paid for, the old record 
says, " the first penny 
and the last." The first 
minister was Rev. Johan- 
nes Fabritius. The Epis- 
copalians worshipped in 
this church part of the 
day in 17 14 (See Epis- 
copal Churches), and 
in 1784-6, the two con- 
gregations had a minister 
m common. The society 
was incorporated in 1784, 
and in 1787, another 
church built on the Pearl 
St. lot in the centre of 
the present st. In 1816, 
a third church, 40x60, 
was erected on the site 
of the present edifice, 
and cost 325,000; Philip 
Hooker, architect. The 
church owned real estate, 
bounded by Eagle, Lan- 
caster, Hawk and State 
sts., upon which they 
i erected houses. In 1843, 
Rev. Henry N. Pohlman, 
D. D. became pastor, and 
in 1868 was followed by Rev. Sam- 
uel Sprecher. During his pastor- 
ate in 1871, the present church 
edifice was erected. It is 69x126 feet, 
and cost $85,000, exclusive of the 



ground. In 1872 the Rev. Irving Ma- 



I05 



MAD— MAR 



gee, D. D., took charge and remained 
with success until September, 1882. 
The church was then without a pastor 
until Feb. 17th, 1884, when the Rev. 
Geo. W. Miller, from Plymouth, Ohio, 
took charge. In 1873 the parsonage 
was built, at a cost of about $10,000. 
The official board is constituted as fol- 
lows : Elders, Joseph Kennedy, Si- 
mon Vine and Sylvester Shaffer; dea- 
cons, Chas. E.Carhart, M. B. Mathews, 
Geo. Bouton; trustees, J. Van Wormer, 
A. S. Draper, H. E. Pohlman, David 
Caswell, C. E. Jenkins, Geo. N. Collier, 
Fred Cook. The Sabbath School, of 
which S. Shaffer is superintendent, has 
429 members. It meets at 9 a. m.; 
church services at loi and 7^. Prof. 
Geo. Noyes Rockwell is organist and 
choirmaster. During the earlier years, 
no record of the members was kept. 
There have been however, enrolled up 
to the present time, 1,224 members; 
present number entitled to communion, 

338. 

First German Evangelical.— 
Fourth ave., cor. Franklin; Rev. Wil- 
liam A. Frey, pastor. Organized in 
1854. A -week day parochial school 
under Prof. J. Miller has a daily at- 
tendance of 140 children. A new and 
spacious church is soon to be erected. 

St. Paul's Evangelical. — Western 
ave., near Lexington; Rev. G. Fr. 
Stutz, pastor. The congregation sep- 
arated from the First Lutheran, when 
services there were held in English, 
The former place of worship was on 
State St., now the Law school. Moved 
into present church in 1872: number 
of families, 158; average attendance 
at Sunday-school 230; parochial school 
has 2 teachers and 115 pupils. 

St. John's Evangelical. — Central 
ave.; Rev. Ernest Hoffman, pastor. 
Organized 1857; building erected in 
1859, when the present pastor was 
installed. i30famiUes: Sunday-school 
350 scholars and 36 teachers. Day- 
school, 125 scholars. Mr. H. Bosch, 



teacher. Cemetery on the Sand Creek 
road, and a mission chapel, 30 families, 
50 Sunday-school scholars and 12 
teachers. 

German Evangelical Trinity .—58 
Alexander St.; Rev. Conrad Kuehn, 
pastor. 

Madison Avenue. — Originally 
Lydius St.; so named after Rev. 
Johannes Lydius, and said to be the 
only street so called in the Union. 
Foolishly changed to Madison ave. 
May 20, 1867. 

Maiden Lane. — A narrow street 
extending from the river to Eagle St., 
and the shortest and steepest route 
from the depots to the Capitol. At its 
foot is the Boston & Albany Railroad 
ferry to East Albany. Near its foot is 
the Saratoga depot. The Union depot 
also discharges passengers into this 
street. From Broadway to Pearl the 
street is an important business thor- 
oughfare. The jail is on this street, 
near Eagle, and at the corner of Eagle 
is the new City Hall. An ivy 
growing to the rear wall of St. Peter's 
church, on this street, is worth seeing. 

Market, State Street. — Is a prom- 
inent, but not wholly unobjectionable 
feature of Albany. Here farmers, 
butchers, etc., in the morning, draw 
their wagons up in line on both sides 
of the horse railroad tracks, and with- 
out license, fee or restriction of any 
kind, vend their wares. Sometimes 
the wagons extend round into Eagle 
street. There is, of course, not the 
slightest protection from the weather, 
and the business is carried on in the 
most primitive method imaginable. 
The only thing to be said in its 
favor is, that here consumer and pro- 
ducer meet without the intervention of 
middlemen or the payment of any 
license, and that consequently Albany 
is victualed cheaper than any other 



MED— MES 



1 06 



city in the country. But this could 
just as well be done in some less con- 
spicuous place, and the removal of the 
market is only a matter of time. It 
was at one time ordered by the com- 
mon council, but the action was recon- 
sidered. So noble an avenue should 
cease to be a nuisance. 

Medical Associations. — The fol- 
lowing are societies instituted and con- 
ducted by physicians for their own 
benefit and that of medical science : 

Albany Academy of Medicine; Al- 
bany County Eclectic Society, 22 mem- 
bers; Albany County Homoeopathic 
Society, has about 25 members; Al- 
bany County Medical Society (allo- 
pathic); organized July 29, 1806; 130 
members. There is also the Albany 
County Pharmaceutical Association. 

Medical College. — The Albany 
Medical College, on Eagle St., between 
Jay and Lancaster, is the medical de- 
partment of Union University (which 
see) . The building was erected by the 
common council, at a cost of 324,000, 
as a free school on the Lancasterian 
plan, and opened with ceremony, April 
5, 1 81 7. The school lasted till 1834, 
when it was superseded by the com- 
mon school system of the state. 

The Medical College was founded 
by Drs. Alden March and James H. 
Armsby, 'and was organized in 1838, 
succeeding a medical class taught by 
Dr. March since 182 1. The old build- 
ing was leased, rent free, by the com- 
mon council to the college, the trustees 
at once expending ^5,000 in repairs. 
The title to the building was purchased 
in 1877, and now rests with the board 
of trustees. 

The first course of lectures was be- 
gun Jan. 3, 1839, and the institution 
was incorporated Feb. 16, following. 
Since then, 4,652 students have attend- 
ed its 50 sessions, and 1,657 have 
graduated. Over 24,000 lectures have 



been delivered. In April, 1873, it be- 
came a part of Union University, re- 
taining its original rights, and separate 
existence and powers. Its faculty in- 
cludes 20 members. It owns a highly 
valuable library, much of which was 
selected by T. Romeyn Beck. Its 
laboratories are extensive and complete. 
Its museum is the finest in all depart- 
ments, of any medical collection in 
America, and is unsurpassed, if equalled, 
in Europe, and is so regarded by physi- 
cians throughout the land. It is open 
daily, and is visited by thousands, who 
gaze with wonder, if not with admira- 
tion, upon its countless specimens. Oth- 
er advantages which the college 
presents, are : Abundance of clinical 
illustration afforded by the intimate 
relations existing between the college 
and the hospitals; and, through 
the wise policy of the manage- 
ment, a sufficient supply of anatom- 
ical material, thus meeting every requi- 
site of a medical college of the first 
class. That it is of the first class is 
demonstrated by its standard, which 
insists upon preliminary examinations, 
a graded course, and the absolute re- 
quirement of three terms instead of 
two. These regulations are made pos- 
sible through the liberal financial policy 
adopted by its staff which places the 
college upon the basis of a funded 
institution, independent as to whether 
it has few students or many. It is a 
notable fact, however, that since the 
standard was raised, the attendance 
has increased, and that the present 
class is one of the largest ever entered. 
The college is patronized largely by 
the alumni, who have an association 
organized Jan. 20, 1874, numbering 
1,061. Its annual meeting is held on 
commencement day. The trustees of 
the college have for president, Amasa 
J. Parker; treas. and sec, Joseph W. 
Russell (See Pharmacy, College of) . 

Messenger Service, The, has be- 




HUDSON AVENUE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 



I07 MET 

come one of the necessaries of life in structure, but has had an interesting 
the city. It began here in 1876 under history: was dedicated Sept. 27, 1844, 
the American District Telegraph Co. Rev. John Newland MafTitt preaching. 
Each subscriber was furnished with a In 1865-6 the edifice was closed for 
signal box. By the pulling down of a extensive improvements, and March 
crank the number, peculiar to that box, 27, 1866, formally re-opened. Bishop 
was recorded in the company's office Simpson delivering the sermon. This 
on a self-acting register, and a uni- is the oldest Methodist Episcopal so- 
formed messenger answered the call, ciety in the city. In 1765 or 6, Capt. 
The system is still in vogue, although Thos. Webb, of the British army, 
in part superseded by the Telephone stationed in Albany as barrack-master, 
(which see). The Commercial Tele- began holding family services at his 
phone Company, are now the owners own house, to which his neighbors 
of the American District Telegraph were invited Conversions occurred, 
Co. Central office, 468 Broadway; and a small society was formed. In 
branch offices, 68 Washington ave., 1790, a circuit, including this society, 
and S. Pearl cor. Hamilton st. From was formed, with James Campbell as 
40 to 60 boys are employed, the rates circuit preacher. In r79i, a house of 
being for 30 minutes or less, 10 cts.; worship was erected, south-east cor. of 
30 to 45 minutes, 15 cts.; 45 to 60 Orange and Pearl sts., where it still 
minutes, 20 cts. ; each continuous hour stands. When the Methodists left it, 
after the first, 15 cts. Boxes are placed in 181 3, the Baptists for a time occu- 
where there is any chance for business, pied it as their first house of worship 
free of cost; the subscribers paying in the city, and subsequently the Scotch 
only for service. The boys are used Presbyterians. In 1798 the city of 
for all sorts of work, and distribute Albany was made a station. In 1813 
hundreds of thousands of invitations, the society erected a church on Division 
circulars, wedding cards, etc., etc. st. In 1 81 6 a Sunday-school was es- 
tablished, one of the first in the city. 

Methodist Churches. — Following The Division st. church was occupied 

will be found brief accounts of all by the society till the building of the 

the Methodist churches in the city : abandoned edifice in 1844. ^^^ follow- 

HuDSON Avenue. — Located at the ing is the list of the pastors from 1798 : 

cor. of Hudson ave. and Philip st. Rev. Messrs. Joel Ketchum (1798), 

A noble Gothic structure, purchased in Cyrus Stebbins, John Crawford and 

the summer of 1883, of the First Pres- Gideon A. Knowlton (1799-1804), 

byttrian Society. The original cost of Elias Vanderlip (1805), William Phoe- 

the property was ^116,000. It was bus (1806-7), Truman Bishop (1808), 

purchased of the Presbyterians for Daniel Ostrander (1809-10), Lewis 

$25,000, and about $5,000 has since Pease (1811-12), Samuel Marvin 

been spent for repairs and improve- (181 3). P. P. Sanford (1814), Thomas 

ments, so that it is now more beautiful Drummond (1815), William Phoebus 

than ever before. It was formally (1816), Truman Bishop (1817), Joseph 

re-opened in November, 1883, Bishop Crawford (1818-19), Samuel Marvin 

Simpson preaching in the morning, (1820), Phineas Rice (1821-2), Tobias 

and Rev. C. N. Sims, D. D., in the Spicer (1823-4), Josiah Bowen (1825- 

evening. The abandoned edifice of 6), James Young (1827-8), J. C. 

the society still stands. It is a few Green (1829-30), Samuel Luckey 

hundred feet east of the one now (1831), J. B. Stratton (1832-3), 

occupied. It is a plain, old-fashioned Charles Sherman (1834-5), A. M. 



MET 



1 08 



Osborn (1836-7), Truman Seymour 
(183S-9), Noah Levings (184 1-2), 
Henry L. Starks (1842-3), Z. Phillips 
(1844), Allen Steele (1845-6), Andrew 
Witherspoon (1847), John Clark 
(1848-9), Henry L. Starks (1850-51), 
Stephen Parks (1852-3), Robert Fox 
(1854), Stephen D. Brown (1855-6), 
L. D. Stebbins (1857-8), B. O. Meeker 
(1859-60), Mark Trafton (1861-2), 
C. F. Burdick (1863), Ira G. Bidwell 
(1864-5-6), Jesse T. Peck, now one of 
the bishops of the M. E. Church 
(1867-8-9), Merritt Hulburd (1870- 
1-2), D. W. Dayton (1873-4-5), Philip 
Krohn (1876-7), W. H. Meeker 
(1878), E. McChesney (1879-81). 
Present pastor, Rev. J. H. Coleman. 
Sunday-school supt., Harvey Wendell. 
St. Luke's. — CUnton ave. corner of 
Lexington ave. A beautiful and com- 
modious Gothic structure, dedicated in 
June, 18S4. The Sunday-school and 
lecture rooms were opened on Sunday, 
Feb. 24, 1884, Rev. J. E. C. Sawyer 
preaching on the occasion. Value of 
the property, $40,000. The St. Luke's 
church was formed by the union of the 
Garrettson Station and Central Avenue 
societies. The Garrettson- Station 
church was organized in August, 1828. 
It was for one year connected with the 
Watervliet Circuit. The first place of 
worship was an old building called 
Mechanics' Hall, then standing corner 
Chapel and Columbia streets. The 
first stationed preacher was Rev. John 
J. Matthias, during whose pastorate of 
two years the membership rose from 
about 100 to 437. In 1829 the old 
circus property, now 89 N. Pearl st., 
north of Columbia, was purchased, and 
during the following winter and spring 
was fitted up for church purposes, and 
in June, 1830, was dedicated, the Rev. 
Messrs. Samuel Merwin and John New- 
land ^Slaffitt preaching on the occasion. 
This structure was rebuilt in 185 1-2. 
The Garrettson Station church was 
served by the following pastors : John 



P. Newman (1856-7), C. W. Gushing 
(1858-9), N. G. Spaulding (i 860-1), 
J. E. Bowen(i862-3),G. S. Chadbourne 
(1864-6), Dexter E. Clapp (1867-8), 
W. G. Waters (1869-70), W. J. Heath 
(1871-3), S. McLaughlin (1874-6), J. 
W.Thompson (1877-8). Rev. G. A. 
Barrett then became pastor, and during 
his administration the St. Luke's church 
was organized. He was succeeded in 
the spring of 1882 by Rev. T. C. Pot- 
ter, the present pastor. John A. Cox, 
Sunday-school supt. The Central Ave. 
Society, during its separate existence, 
had the following pastors; P. P. nar- 
rower (187 1-2), Charles Reynolds 
(1873), D. R. Lowell (1874-5), J. S. 
Bridgford (1876), J. C. Russum (1877- 
78), Rufus Wendell (1879), Hiram 
Blanchard (1880). 

Ash Grove. — Located on an ample 
and beautiful lot cor. Ash Grove place 
and Trinity place. Corner-stone laid 
in Aiigust, 1864; dedicated July 6, 
1865; seats 1,100; cost of church and 
adjoining parsonage, including lot, 
$100,000. No debt on church edifice; 
about $1,000 on parsonage. In May, 
1834, some 40 members were set off 
from Garrettson Station Church and 
organized under the name of Wesley 
Chapel Church. Their first house of 
worship was a building cor. Dallius 
and Bleecker sts. In 1835 they pur- 
chased a lot on Herkimer st., between 
Franklin and Pearl. A church was 
built on this lot and dedicated in Sep- 
tember, 1837. On April 20, 1839, it 
was destroyed by fire. The society 
then worshipped for a time in a build- 
ing formerly occupied by the Uni- 
versalists in Herkimer st. In 1842 
this place of worship having been sold 
to the Jews, the society was disbanded, 
May 22, and Wesley Chapel ceased to 
exist. But the Sabbath school teach- 
ers immediately met and resolved to 
hold their ground in the south part of 
the city. A small room was hired in 
John St., and the first Sabbath-school 



I09 



MET 



was held there on May 29. On June 
20, 1842, the little company was incor- 
porated as a new society under the 
name of the Ferry Street M. E. Church. 
A church was erected cor. Ferry and 
Franklin sts., and dedicated Dec. 4, 
1842. In 1863 the membership having 
become too large for the old church, it 
was also sold to the Jews, and the 
beautiful property known as Ash 
Grove, lying on Westerlo, Grand and 
Broad sts., purchased at a cost of 
$24,000, and the present edifice built 
and dedicated, Bishop Simpson preach- 
ing the sermon. In the old mansion 
which formerly occupied the site of the 
church, Wm. H. Seward lived when 
Governor of the State. The following 
are the names of the ministers who 
have been the regular pastors of this 
society : Revs. Hiram Meeker, Daniel 
F. Page, S. Remington, William 
Griffin, Alfred Saxe, Timothy Bene- 
dict, Lyman A. Santford, John Fraser, 
A. A. Farr, Charles Devol, Hiram 
Dunn, E. H. Foster, C. F. Burdick, 
W. R. Brown, Stephen D. Brown, 
W. P. Abbott, S. McChesney, S. 
M'Kean, H. Graham, J. E. C. Sawyer, 
and J. W. Alderman. Present pastor, 
J. W. Eaton, D. D. Number of mem- 
bers about 350. The present supt. of 
the Sunday-school is Byron M. Child. 

Trinity, cor. Lark and Lancaster 
sts. Corner-stone laid Oct. 10, 1875; 
dedicated Dec. 28, 1876. The tran- 
sept was erected in 1867. Cost, in- 
cluding lot, $75,000. The parsonage, 
closely adjoining on Lancaster street, 
cost $8,000. This church is a beauti- 
ful English Gothic structure of brick, 
with stone trimmings. The auditorium 
seats 800, and the transept 480 ; spire, 
175 feet. 

In 1835 ^^^ three Methodist Episco- 
pal churches in Albany, viz. : Division 
street, Garrettson Station and Wesley 
Chapel, jointly resolved to establish 
another church further up town, and 
unitedly rented a building on State St., 



originally erected and occupied by the 
Primitive Methodists. The Law School 
is on the site formerly occupied by this 
building. At the next session of Troy 
Conference, Rev. Charles T. Clarke 
was appointed pastor over this new 
charge. Their membership rapidly in- 
creased, and in 1836 they were organ- 
ized as the West Station M. E. church. 
In 1850 they erected a larger edifice, 
cor. of Washington ave. and Swan st. 
Here they continued till they moved 
into the transept of the present struc- 
ture, in 1867, when they took the name 
of Trinity church. The following is a 
Hst of the pastors since i860: Revs. 
M. Bates (i860), S. M. Merrill (1861- 
62), A. J. Jutkins (1863), Bostwick 
Hawley (1864-5), Richard Meredith 
(1866, 1867-8), T. A. Griffin (1869), 
Charles Reynolds (1870-1-2), VV. H. 
Rowsom (1873-4), Thomas Kelly 
(1875-6-7), J. F. Clymer (1878-9), S. 
M. Williams (1880-1), D. W. Gates 
( 1 882-4) • Present pastor, F. Widmer. 
The membership is about 500. Con- 
nected with the church is a large and 
flourishing Sunday school, of which 
Charles Gibson is supt. 

Grace, cor. Ten Broeck st. and Liv- 
ingston ave., is a beautiful structure of 
unique design, which cost with lot 
about $25,000. (See cut, p. no.) The 
adjacent parsonage on Ten Broeck st. 
cost 34,000. The corner-stone of the 
church was laid Sept. 21, 1880, Rev. J. 
E. C. Sawyer, Presiding Elder of Al- 
bany District, delivering the address. 
It was dedicated a few months later, 
Bishop Foster preaching on the occa- 
sion. 

On May 3, 1869, the two churches 
formerly known as the Broadway and 
Arbor Hill i\L E. churches, were con- 
solidated, and the new society thus 
constituted took the name of Grace 
M. E. church. The present site was 
immediately purchased, and in the fol- 
lowing autumn work was begun on a 
large wooden structure intended to 



MET— MOR 



serve as a house of worship for a Jew 
years. Till this was completed, services 
were held in the old buildings of the 
two consolidated societies. This edifice 
was dedicated Dec. 19, 1869, the Rev. 
Samuel Meredith preaching. Early in 
the year 1880 it was determined to 
erect a more sightly and substantial 
structure. On Sunday, April 11, ap- 
propriate closing services were held in 
the old building, conducted by the pas- 




GRACE M. E. CHURCH. 

tor. Rev. H. D. Kimball. During the 
following week it was demolished, and 
the grading of the lot for the new 
church was begun. 

The following is a list of the pastors 
of this society : Revs. J. W. Alderman 
(1869-71), Homer Eaton (1872-4), 
B. B. Loomis (1875-7), H. C. Sexton 
(1878), H. D. Kimball (1879-81). 
Present pastor, Rev. S. V. Leech, D. D., 
who is also chaplain of the State Senate. 



South Mission, on Benjamin street. 
Has done a good work for the last 
twenty-five years. No regular pastor 
until the spring of 1883, when Rev. 
W. O. Tower was appointed. He was 
succeeded in April, 1884, by the pres- 
ent pastor. Rev. George A. Kerr. Wm. 
M. Cox, Sunday school supt. 



Methodist Preachers' Meetings 

are held every Monday morning in the 
Hudson Avenue Methodist Church, 
except once in every two months, wnen 
a union meeting of the Albany and 
Troy preachers is held in one of the 
two cities. Papers on religious or 
theological topics are read and dis- 
cussed. 



Military Associations. — Besides 
the National Guard (which see) Al- 
bany boasts of at least two famous in- 
dependent companies. The oldest of 
these is the Burgesses Corps, organized 
Oct. 8, 1833. Armory, Bleecker Hall, 
529 Broadway. Oscar Smith, com.; 
Galen R. Hitt, Pres. 

The Albany Jackson Corps was 
organized Aug. 13, 1868. Armory in 
Beaver St., the old lecture room of the 
Middle Dutch (Church. James McFar- 
lane, major, commanding. 



Morse's Geography. — The fifth 
edition of Morse's Geography, and his 
Gazeteer of 1797, both have the fol- 
lowing notice of Albany : 

" The city and suburbs, by enumeration in 
1797, contain 1,263 buildings, of which 863 are 
dwelling houses, and 6,021 inhabitants. Many 
of them are in the Gothic style, with the gable 
end to the street," etc. 

Mr. Munsell, in attempting to vindi- 
cate the doctor's EngUsh, quotes from 
two earlier editions, but curiously 
enough, it is those which came after, 
that located the inhabitants of Albany 
in such an extraordinary manner. 



MUS 



Museum Corner. — The north-west 
corner of Broadway and State st. The 
Museum was erected by Thorp & 
Sprague, and opened as a place of 




MUSEUM CORNER. 

amusement Jan. i, 1831. It was used 
as such till April 28, 1855, ^""^^ ^^en 
converted into offices, etc. For a score 
of years it was the leading theatre. It 
has been damaged by fire several tin>es. 

Museum of Natural History, The 
State, as its name implies, was intend- 
ed primarily to embrace an exhibition 
of the natural productions of the State 
of New York in the several depart- 
ments of Botany, Zoology, Geology 
and Mineralogy; and this intention 
has constantly been kept in view in its 
subsequent management. The exist- 
ence of the State Museum, organized 
in 1836, is directly due to the geologi- 
cal survey of the State, and the foun- 
dation of its collections was derived 
from the same source. In 1840, Gov. 
Seward recommended that the collec- 
tions of this survey be placed in the 
Old State Hall (then about to be va- 
cated by the Stafe officers) for " safe- 
keeping." This recommendation was 
accepted; a legislative enactment fol- 
lowed, and the State Hall, which was 
erected in 1797, was made the deposi- 
tory of the then existing collections; 



and at a later period the State Agricul- 
tural Society was authorized to occupy 
a part of the building. The want of 
sufficient accommodation for the two 
organizations induced the legislature 
to make appropriation for a new build- 
ing to be erected in place of the old, 
and the collections, libraries, etc., of 
the State Cabinet and of the State Ag- 
ricultural Society were transferred to 
the new building in 1858. In 1865 
the legislature passed resolutions recog- 
nizing the importance of making the 
State Cabinet of Natural History a mu- 
seum of scientific and practical geology 
and comparative zoology. In 1870 
the legislature passed a law organizing 
"The State Museum oT Natural His- 
tory," and providing an annual appro- 
priation for its support. 

The present building has long been 
inadequate for the proper arrangement 
and exhibition of the collections and in 
1883 the legislature passed an act giv- 
ing to the museum the State Hall as 
soon as the same shall cease to be oc- 
cupied for State offices, and also pro- 
vided for the fitting up of the building 
for the requirements of the museum. 
This will make one of the finest mu- 
seum buildings in the country and in- 
sure the preservation of the collections. 
The staft' of the museum consists of 
James Hall, director and geologist, and 
three assistants; J. A. Lintner, ento- 
mologist, appointed July 29, 1881, 
under Chap. 377, Laws of 1881; office 
Room 27, Capitol, fourth floor, north; 
Charles H. Peck, botanist. 

Geological Hall. 

The present building is of brick, four 
stories high, fronting on State street, at 
the corner of Lodge, with a wing of 
three stories in the rear, devoted to a 
large lecture-room on the ground floor, 
and the museum of agricultural imple- 
ments and products in the stories 
above. On the lower or basement 
floor, and on the same level as the lee- 



MUS 



ture-room, at the east end of the main 
building, are two rooms occupied with 
the work of cutting and preparing thin 
sections of fossils of minute structure, 
for the purpose of microscopic study- 
in the museum. The machinery and 
appliances for this work are of superi- 
or character, and the results are of 
great importance and interest to the 
museum and to science. 




GEOLOGICAL HALL. 

The First Floor of the main build- 
ing is occupied by the offices and li- 
braries of the State Museum and of 
the State Agricultural Society; and in 
the rear of the former a large working- 
room is furnished with about 300 
drawers for the reception of collections 
in process of preparation and arrange- 
ment. The main entrance hall exhib- 
its a collection of dressed blocks of 
granite, marble, freestone, etc., the 
products of New York and adjacent 
states. 

The Second Floor is occupied by 
the collections illustrating the Geology 
and Palaeontology of the State. The 
wall-cases, and a single series of table- 



cases around the room, are occupied 
by the rock specimens, whether fossil- 
iferous or otherwise, and are arranged 
in such order that in going from left to 
right they show the geological super- 
position of the formations, each right- 
hand case containing specimens of the 
rock or formation lying next above the 
one on the left. This is supplemented 
by a colored geological section extend- 
ing around the room above the cases, 
and so arranged that each formation 
shown in the section is represented by 
characteristic specimens in the case be- 
low. Besides this illustration, there 
are enlarged figures of the character- 
istic fossils placed in the upper part 
of the case above each formation. The 
entire arrangement is simple and in- 
structive, and easily understood. The 
collection of fossils (Palaeontology) oc- 
cupies the table-cases in the central 
portion of the floor, and also a large 
number of drawers beneath the table- 
cases. This collection is arranged in 
the same simple and systematic order 
as the geological formations; and un- 
der each formation there is a natural 
history arrangement of the genera and 
species of the fossils. This collection 
of rock specimens, and of fossils, pre- 
sents the most complete geological se- 
ries of the older rocks, to the base of 
the coal measures, of any in the 
world, the older or palaeozoic rocks of 
the state of New York being more 
complete and less interrupted in their 
order of succession. Also along the 
west side of the room, are arranged a 
series of large blocks of magnetic iron 
ore representing the principal mines of 
Northern New York and Orange coun- 
ty- 

The Third Floor is occupied by 
the collections from geological forma- 
tions above the coal measures, both 
American and European, and by the 
Mineralogical collections. The fossil 
series represent the period from the 
New Red Sandstone to the Pleistocene. 



MUS 



The Pleistocene of North America is 
represented by the Cohoes mastodon 
skeleton, and other remains of masto- 
don and fossil elephants from different 
points; the Pleistocene of South Ameri- 
ca by the casts of the gigantic Mega- 
therium and other forms of that age; 
and the same of Europe, by the skele- 
ton of the Megaceros Hibernicus. The 
wall-cases are, in part, occupied by a 
collection of the minerals of the State, 
and, in part devoted to a general col- 
lection of minerals from all parts of 
the world. 

Thr Fourth Story is occupied by 
the Zoological collection, representing 
the fauna of the State of New York, 
and to some extent other portions of 
the world. The western part of the 
room is devoted especially to the New 
York fauna, which is represented in its 
mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes, crusta- 
ceans, and shells. The eastern part of 
the room is occupied, in part, by a case, 
containing a large collection of birds, 
with some mammals, which were pre- 
sented to the Museum as a special and 
separate collection, by* Mr. de Rham, 
of New York, and is known as the De 
Rham collection. Other cases at the 
extreme east end, and partially on the 
south side, are devoted to the skins and 
skeletons of fishes, and to a general 
collection of skeletons of mammals, 
birds, reptiles, etc. The Ethnological 
and Historical collections occupy some 
wall-cases upon the north side of the 
room, and the central-north side by 
cases containing chiefly corals and 
echinoderms. The centre of the room 
is occupied by two double ranges of 
table-cases, containing the Gould col- 
lection of shells, of 6,000 species, and 
more than 60,000 specimens; and in 
the area, near the east end of the 
room, a double range of table-cases 
contains the Mazatlan collection of 
shells, presented to the Museum by the 
late Phihp P. Carpenter. 

Since 1866, the collections of the 



Museum have been more than doubled 
in every one of the departments, while 
in some classes, as in the shells, the 
increase has been more than fifty fold. 
At the present time, every available 
space in the Museum is filled with spe- 
cimens; and in Geology and Palaeon- 
tology the collections, for which no 
room can be found, are more than 
twice as great as those already ar- 
ranged. All the collections are ar- 
ranged for study and comparison, and 
the Museum is strictly an educational 
institution, which is made available by 
thousands of students and by the pub- 
lic, and its influence is gradually per- 
vading the entire community. 

Being a State institution, the Mu- 
seum should be considered as cosmo- 
politan. Its intentions are to cover the 
whole field of natural research, and to 
be a centre for the dissemination of 
a technical and popular knowledge of 
the products, fauna, and flora of the 
entire State. With this view, it should 
be an object of interest for the remote 
portions of the State, as well as the 
immediate locality. 

Music Hall.— S. Pearl St., cor. Bea- 
ver. Erected in 1870. Is the largest 
hall in the city. Many very fine per- 
formances have been given here. Has 
scenery, curtain, dressing rooms, etc. 
Will seat 1,306, but often holds very 
many more. Is now used as a museum 
or popular place of amusement; ad- 
mission 10 and 20 cents, and it is as- 
tonishing how much is given for so 
Uttle. Living wonders and curiosities 
of all sorts are displayed in one depart- 
ment, and variety performances, min- 
strels, and even comic operas are given 
afternoon and evening for the one 
price. F. F. Levantine, manager after 
August I, 1884, having leased the hall 
for five years. The performances are 
attended by ladies and children, in short, 
it is a family resort for the people, at 
prices which everybody can aftord to pay. 



MUS— NAT 

Musical Societies. — Considerable 
attention is paid to music in Albany, 
and amateur opera has been given 
here with great completeness and suc- 
cess. The Albany Musical Association 
meets every Monday evening at Fe- 
male Academy. Has a chorus of over 
lOO voices. Visitors admitted on ap- 
plication. R. G. Wilbur, pres.; R. F. 
Macfarlane, vice-pres.; D. Whittle, 
treas.; J. G. Parkhurst, conductor; E. 
Parkhurst, accompanist. There are 
also several German societies, including 
the Manner Quartette, the Eintracht, 
the Cecelia, the Apollo and others. 

Names of Streets. —Albany streets 
have had their names changed fre- 
quently, and not always lor the better. 
Many of the following changes have 
occurred since 1805 : 

Kilby to Hamilton. 

Bone lane to Division. 

Cow lane to Union. 

Grass lane to Liberty. 

Nail to Lutheran. 

Lutheran to Howard. 

Barrack to Chapel. 

Market to Broadway (north.) 

Court to Broadway (south.) 

King to Lion. 

Lion to Washington. 

Washington st. to Washington ave. 

Queen to Elk. 

Boscawen to Swan. 

Capitol to Park. 

Mark lane to Exchange. 

Middle lane to James. 

Howe to Fox. 

Fox to Canal. 

Vreelinghuysen to Franklin. 

Jonkers to Prince. 

Prince to Deer. 

Deer to State. 

Dock to Dean. 

Bass lane to Bleecker. 

Store lane to Norton. 

Warren to Dove. 

Johnson to Lark. 

Swallow to Knox. 

Schenectady to Snipe. 

Snipe St. to Lexington ave. 

Schoharie to Duck. 

Pitt to Otter. 

Sand to Latayette. 

Otter to Wolfe. 

Wolfe to Lydius. 

Lydius to Madison ave. 



14 

Wall to Hare. 

Hare to Orange. 

Van Driesen to Green, 

South to Gansevoort. 

High to Ten Broeck. 

Hallenbeck to Grand. 

Preaudieux to Buffalo. 

Buffalo to Hudson. 

Hudson St. to Hudson ave. 

Mink to West Ferry. 

West Ferry to Myrtle ave. 

Malcomb to Broad. 

Embargo alley to Dennison. 

Whitehall road to Whitehall ave. 

Whitehall ave to Second ave. 

Van Vechten to Third ave. 

Delaware Turnpike to Delaware ave, 

Elizabeth to Second. 

John to Third. 

Orchard to North Pearl. 

Bowery to Central ave. 

Patroon to Clinton ave. 

Van Schaick to Monroe. 

Tiger to Lancaster. 

Lumber to Livingston ave. 

Part of Perry to Lake ave. 

Names of streets cannot under the 
present charter be changed, except by 
unanimous vote of all members elected 
to the common council and approved 
by the mayor, and streets shall not be 
named " after or with the name of any 
living person." 

National Commercial Bank. — 

No. 38 State st. Chartered March 30, 
1825, Joseph Alexander, G. W. Stan- 
ton, Alexander Davidson and David 
E. Gregory having given notice Nov, 
19. 1823, of application to the legisla- 
ture for an act of incorporation. Its 
early days were not peaceful. The 
stock books having been opened the 
last of May, 1825 for a subscription of 
$300,000, they were closed three days 
after, when the amount subscribed was 
found to exceed §1,500,000. The stock 
not having been distributed to the sat- 
isfaction of all the subscribers, an in- 
dignation meeting was called at the 
Capitol, which was largely attended. 
The ground of complaint seemed to be 
that the bank was petitioned for by men 
of small means, but the stock had 
been taken by capitalists. The direct- 
ors of the bank were for a time en- 



"5 



NAT 



joined from opening, but Aug. 29, 
1826, the chancellor decided that the 
bank might go into operation so far as 
to issue bills and discount notes, but 
prohibited any transfer of stock, or 
making any loans or pledges on stock. 
The following persons were present at 
the first meeting of directors held at 
Knickerbocker Hall, May 2^, 1S26: 
Joseph Alexander, Willard Walker, 
John Townsend, Seth Hastings, Ira 
Jenkins, Asa H. Center, Lewis Bene- 
dict, Joshua Tuffs, Robert Gilchrist, 
David E. Gregory, George W. Stanton, 
Richard Marvin. Joseph Alexander 
was elected president and Henry Bar- 
tow, cashier. The bank began busi- 
ness Sept. 5, 1826, with a capital of 
;? 300,000, and continued until the expi- 
ration of its charter on the ist July. 
1845, ^^'^^ under an extension of its 
charter until July i, 1847, ^^'hen it was 
reorganized under the general banking 
law of the State. Feb. i, 1855, the 
capital stock was increased to $500,000. 
Aug. I, 1865, the bank was reorgan- 
ized and began business under the act 
of Congress as a national institution. 
The capital stock was reduced to S300,- 
000, June 10, 1875, th^ amount of the 
reduction being paid to the stockhold- 
ers. Mr. Alexander was succeeded in 
the office of president by the following 
persons, who were elected at the dates 
given: John Townsend, June 7, 1832; 
John L. Schoolcraft, Aug. 31, 1854; 
Ezra P. Prentice, June 13, i860; Robt, 
H. Pruyn, Nov. 24, 1875; Daniel Man- 
ning, March 4, 1882. 

The several cashiers have been : 
Henry Bartow, July 13, 1826; James 
Taylor, Nov. 2, 1835: Andrew White, 
March 17, 1854; Powers L. Green. 
June 16, 1855; Vischer Ten Eyck, July 
7, 1858; EHphalet Wickes, Aug. 11, 
1862; James Martin, Feb. 24, 1866; 
Edward A. Groesbeck, April 30, 1873. 

This bank has been the custodian of 
the public funds during the greater 
part of its existence, and has rendered 



very valuable service to the State in 
the safe-keeping of its moneys and in 
making large advances to its various 
departments whenever needed. It is 
also the depository of the city and 
county funds. It deservedly stands in 
the first rank among the banks in the 
vicinity, enjoying the confidence of 
the community as a safe and prosper- 
ous institution. Present capital is 
$300,000; surplus and profits, $475,000; 
deposits, $4,700,000. Board of direct- 
ors : Daniel Manning, Maurice E. 
Viele, Abraham Lansing, Simon W, • 
Rosendale, James E. Craig, Robert C. 
Pruyn, Nathan B. Perry, James M. 
Warner, Grange Sard. The building 
was erected in 1816; remodelled in 
185 1, and again in 1876. 

National Guard, State of New 
York. — Headquarters at the office of 
the Adjutant-General, in the Capitol. 

Fifth Brigade, Third division, has 
headquarters at 42 Willett street. Gen. 
Robert Shaw Oliver commanding. 

Tenth Battalion, four companies, 
has headquarters at State armory (see 
Armory). Lieut.-Col. Wm. E.' Fitch 
commanding. 

Armament : Remington rifles and 
one Gatling gun. Calibre .50. 

Feb. 17, 1 88 1, Companies A, B, D 
and K of the Tenth Regt. were de- 
tached therefrom and organized as the 
Tenth Battalion, the Tenth Regt., with 
its remaining companies, being then 
disbanded. 

A company was organized as an in- 
dependent company about June 7, 
i860, and is known as the Albany 
Zouave Cadets; joined the National 
Guard and Tenth Regt. Dec. 29, i860; 
was mustered in United States service 
as A company, 177th N. Y. Vol., Nov. 
21, 1862, for nine months; mustered 
out Sept. 10, 1863; was engaged in 
U. S. service at Ponchatoula, Scivique's 
Ferry and Port Hudson : in the State 
service in the summer of 1865 in the 



NAV— NEW 



ii6 



** anti-rent war," and in July, 1877, 
during railroad riots at West Albany; 
during the war furnished for the armies 
of the United States nearly seventy- 
five commissioned officers. Present 
commander, . Ar- 
mory, 80 and 82 State street. An Old 
Guard was organized Dec. 7, 1883. 
John H. Reynolds, pres.; George H. 
Stevens, vice-pres.; James H. Man- 
ning, sec; Harry C. Cushman, treas. 
B company, Washington Continen- 
tals, was organized as an independent 
company July 4, 1854; joined the 
militia as a company of Hght artillery 
attached to 76th regt., Aug. 28, 1856; 
assigned to 29th regt., Dec. 26, i860; 
became the nucleus and B company of 
loth regt., Dec. 29, i860; mustered in 
and out U. S. V. with A company (see 
above), and has seen the same service. 
Furnished U. S. Vols, with 60 officers. 
Present commander, Capt. and Brevet 
Maj. Horatio P. Stacpole. Armory, 
108 and no State st. (See Military 
Associations.) 

Navigation, Opening and Closing 

of. — The following table of the open- 
ing and closing of navigation on the 
Hudson river and the canals is pub- 
lished officially in the " Red Book " 
(Legislative Manual) : 

River. Canal. 



River. 



Canal. 



1824 

1825 
1826 
1827 
1828 
1829 



1832 
1833 
1834 
183s 
1836 
1837 
1838 
1839 
1840 
1841 
1842 



Open. 
March 
March 
Feb. 
March 
Feb. 
April 
March 
March 
March 
March 
Feb. 
March 
April 
March 
March 
March 
Feb. 
March 
Feb. 



Closed 

3 Jan. 
6 Dec. 

25 Dec. 

20 Nov. 

8 Dec. : 

I Jan. 
15 Dec. 
15 Dec. 
25 Dec. 

21 Dec, 
25 Dec. 
25 Nov. 

4 Dec. 
27 Dec. 
19 Nov. 
25 Nov. 
25 Nov. 
24 Nov. 

4 Nov. 



Open. 

5 April 30 
3 April 12 

3 April 20 
15 April 22 
13 March 27 

4 May 2 
15 April 20 

6 April 16 
II April 25 
3 April 19 

5 April 17 
;o April 15 

7 April 25 
:4 April 20 
!5 April 12 
:8 April 20 

5 April 20 

9 April 24 

iS April 20 



Closed. 

Dec. 4 

Dec. 5 

Dec. 18 

Dec. 18 

Dec. 20 

Dec. 17 

Dec. 17 

Dec. I 

Dec. 21 

Dec. 12 

Dec. 12 

Nov. 30 

Nov. 26 

Dec. 9 

Nov. 25 

Dec. 16 

Dec. 9 

Nov. 30 

Nov. 28 



Open. 

843 April 13 

844 March 18 

845 Feb. 24 

846 March 18 

847 April 7 

848 March 22 

849 March 19 

850 March 10 

851 Feb. 25 

852 March 28 

853 March 23 

854 March 17 

855 March 27 

856 April II 

857 Feb. 27 

858 March 20 

859 March 13 

860 March 6 

861 March 5 

862 April 4 

863 April 3 

864 March 11 

865 March 22 

866 March 20 

867 March 26 

868 March 24 

869 April 5 

870 March 31 

871 March 12 

872 April 7 

873 April 16 

874 March 19 

875 April 13 

876 April I 

877 March 30 

878 March 14 

879 April 4 

880 March 5 

881 March 21 

882 March 8 

883 March 29 

884 March 27 



Closed 
Dec. i( 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec, 
Dec. 12 
Dec. 16 
Dec. 15 
Dec. 8 
Dec. 5 
Dec. 9 
Dec. 17 
Nov. 29 
Dec. 9 
Nov. 22 
Dec. 12 
Nov. 29 
Dec. 2 
Dec. 31 
Dec. 20 
Dec. 20 
Nov. 25 
Jan. 2 
Dec. 4 
Dec. IS 



19 



Open. 
May 
April ] 
April 
April 
May 
May 
May 
April 
April 
April 
April 
May 
May 
May 
May 
April 
April 
April 
May 
May 
May 
April 
May 
May 
May 
May 
May 
May 
April 
May 
May 
May 
May 
May 
May 
April 
April 
April 
May 
April 
May 
ivlay 



Closed 
. Nov. 
18 Nov. 

15 Nov. 

16 Nov. 
I Nov. 
I Dec. 
I Dec. 

22 Dec. 
15 Dec, 
20 Dec, 
20 Dec. 

I Dec. 

I Dec. 

5 Dec. 

6 Dec. 
28 Dec. 
15 Dec. 
25 Dec. 

1 Dec. 
I Dec. 
I Dec. 
30 Dec. 
I Dec. 12 
I Dec. 12 
6 Dec. 20 

4 Dec. 7 

6 Dec. 10 
ID Dec. 8 
24 Dec. I 
13 Dec. I 
15 Dec. 5 

5 I5ec. 5 
18 Nov. *3o 

4 Dec. I 
8 Dec. 7 

15 Dec. 7 
8 Dec. 6 

16 Nov, *2i 
12 Dec, 8 
II Dec. 7 

7 Dec. I 
6 



30 
26 
29 
25 
30 

9 

5 
II 

5 
16 
20 

3 
10 

4 
15 

8 
12 

12 

10 
ID 

9 



Newsboys' Lodging Room. — 

Under the charge of the ladies' auxil- 
iary board of the City Tract and Mis- 
sionary Society. Located in the old 
mission building on Rensselaer st, 
Mrs. Hamilton Harris, 722 Broadway, 
chairman. Is supplied with beds, toi- 
let and bath room, wardrobe and libra- 
ry. Terms, 10 cts. a night. 

Nevrs Company, Albany. — 5 1 2 

Broadway, John W. Robe, manager. 
The institution through which Albany 

* By ice. 



117 



NEW 



and the surrounding country is in a 
great measure supplied with newspa- 
per and periodical literature, besides 
large quantities of stationery and other 
goods usually kept at news stands and 
stores. The company was organized 
on the nth of April, 1870, Mr. Robe 
having, at that time, had several years' 
experience in the business. Its success 
was immediate, and is visibly increas- 
ing every month. Within a few years 
it has more than trebled, and now 
three stories, running through from 
Broadway to James St., are not suffi- 
cient to fully accommodate the trade. 
Scarcely a passenger train leaves Al- 
bany in any direction that does not 
carry with it wares from this establish- 
ment. Almost every news stand, from 
Pittsfield on the east to Buffalo on the 
west, from Poughkeepsie on the south 
to Lake Champlain on the north, and 
southwest to Binghampton, is supplied 
from this great depot. By special ar- 
rangements made with the American 
News Company, the various monthly 
and weekly publications are placed in 
the hands of this company on sale sim- 
ultaneously with their appearance in 
New York. Dealers in this vicinity, 
therefore, find it quite as much to their 
advantage to deal with Mr. Robe as to 
go further away from home. Every- 
thing in the book-seller's and station- 
er's line is furnished, from a bottle of 
ink to the last new novel. The latest 
books are received on the day of pub- 
lication and others are readily sup- 
plied. As many of the news rooms, 
especially in the country, are tobacco 
and cigar stores as well, these goods 
have within a few years been added to 
the assortment, and full lines are kept 
constantly on hand. The cigars, cigar- 
ettes and tobacco of the Albany News 
Company's brand are among the most 
popular in market, and the promptness 
with which such and all other orders 
are filled is always gratifying. In the 
season of ball and croquet playing, 



lawn tennis, etc., the trade in games is 
a great feature. Recently the jobbing 
trade in. fireworks has been made a 
specialty, and for a few weeks prior to 
our great national holiday the amount 
of powder and patriotism sent out from 
this establishment is remarkable. Price 
lists of newspapers are sent free on 
application of dealers, and quotations 
on books and stationery are always 
furnished cheerfully. 

Nevrspapers and Periodicals. — 

The first newspaper printed in Albany 
was the Gazette, issued probably in 
November, 1771, by Alexander and 
James Robertson. It was not a success 
and was soon discontinued. The N. 
Y. Gazetteer, or Northern Intelligencer, 
was started in 1792 by Solomon Balen- 
tine and Charles R. Webster, and 
lasted a year or so. On the 28th of 
May, 1784, Webster started another 
Gazette, which existed till 1845, when 
it was the oldest in the State. The 
first daily paper in this city was the 
Advertiser, established in 1 81 5, and 
subsequently united with the Gazette. 

Newspapers of To-day. 

Albany Akgus. — Established Jan. 
26, 1 81 3, as a semi- weekly; was issued 
daily on and after Oct. 18, 1825. 
United with the Atlas Feb. 18, 1856, 
Now published daily, semi-weekly and 
weekly — Sunday edition established 
May 13, 1877; Democratic; the county 
and city paper; office, Beaver St., cor. 
Broadway; Argus Co., proprietors. 

Albany Evening Jolrnal. — Estab- 
lished' March 22, 1830, as a pohtical 
anti-masonic organ, by B. D. Packard 
& Co.; Thurlow Weed, editor. Now 
published as a daily, semi-weekly and 
weekly; Republican; official county 
paper; office, 61 State St.; The Journal 
Co., proprietors. 

Albany Morning Express. — Es- 
tablished May 4, 1857, by Stone and 
Henly; Republican; the State paper; 



NOR 



published daily, including Sunday; 
office, Green St., cor. Beaver; Albany 
Morning Express Co., proprie.tors. 

Albany Times. — Established as a 
morning paper, April 21, 1856, by 
Stone & Co..; consolidated with the 
Evening Courier, March I, 1861. First 
issued as an evening paper, Sept. 25, 
1865. In 1871 it became a member of 
the Associated Press. Democratic in 
politics; official city paper; has pub- 
lished a weekly edition since 1872; 
office, 401 Broadway; Theophilus C. 
CaUicot, editor and proprietor. 

Press and Knickerbocker. — The 
Sunday Press was first issued May 15, 
1870, and for several years was the 
only Sunday paper in Albany. Feb. 
26, 1877, the proprietors issued the 
Daily Press, and Aug. 13 of the same 
year, bought and consolidated with it, 
the Knickerbocker, established in 1843; 
The Press Co., proprietors. They also 
publish the Weekly Press. Office, 18 
Beaver st. 

Evening Post. — Established Oct. 
23, 1865. Office, 7 Hudson avenue. 
M. & E. Griffin, proprietors; R. M. 
Griffin, editor. 

Evening Union. — Established as a 
labor organ. One of the three official 
city papers. 

Freie Blaetter. — Daily German 
paper, established in 1852. Office, 44 
Beaver st. A. Miggael, editor and 
proprietor. 

Albany Daily Herold. — Daily 
German paper. Jacob Heinmiller, 
proprietor. Office, 87 Westerlo st. 

Albany Law Journal. — Published 
weekly by Weed, Parsons & Co. Es- 
tablished in 1870. 

Cultivator and Country Gentle- 
man.— Published at 395 Broadway, by 
L. Tucker & Son. The oldest agricul- 
tural weekly in the country. The 
Genesee Farmer was started at Roches- 
ter in 1 83 1, by Mr. Tucker; the Culti- 
vator, at Albany, in 1834, by Judge 
Buel. They were consolidated in 1840, 



and took the present title in Jan. i, 

1853. 

Poultry Monthly. — Published by 
the Ferris Publishing Co., at 481 
Broadway. 

The Work at Home. — Official or- 
gan of the Albany City Tract and 
Missionary Society; also a record of 
the general church work of the city. 
Edited by Rev. Charles Reynolds and 
George Sanderson, Jr. Office, 9 North 
St. Circulation, 3,000 copies monthly. 
Subscription, $1. 

The Voice. — Published monthly. 
Edgar S. Werner, 59 Lancaster St., 
editor and proprietor; specialty, voice 
culture and the cure of vocal defects. 
The only journal of its kind in the 
world; $1 a year. 

New York, West Shore & Buflfalo 
R. R.— (See West Shore R. R.) 

Normal School, The State, was 

established May 7, 1844, as a five 
years' experiment (David P. Page, 
principal), and was made permanent 
in 1848. The building cor. of Lodge 
and Howard sts. was first occupied 



'1 1 csthk^^ 







OLD NORMAL SCHOOL. 

July 31, 1849. Previously, sessions 
had been held at 119 State st., in the 



119 



NOR— ODD 



building erected as a depot by the Mo- 
hawk and Hudson railroad. The 
Lodge St. edifice is four stories and a 
basement; 120 feet by 78, and has a 
hall 46x98; cost $25,000. The presi- 
dent, E. P. Waterbury, A. M., Ph. D., 
took charge of the school in June, 
1882. The design of the institution is 
for the instruction and practice of 
teachers of common schools in the 
science of education and the art of 
teaching. The pupils, who come from 
all parts of the state, receive tuition 
and the use of text-books free. Males 
are admitted at eighteen and females 
at sixteen years of age. 

The Nf.w Building, in process of 
erection from designs by Ogden & 
"Wright, architects, will be ready for 
occupancy in May, 1885. It is situated 
on Willett St., near Madison ave., and 
fronts on Washington park. It is 
built of the free-stone of the old Capi- 
tol and Philadelphia brick; 128 by 160 
feet, court in centre 50 by 90; will ac- 
commodate 670 pupils, including 400 
normals, 200 in the model department, 
50 in Kindergarten and 20 in object 
class. The roof over the lower front 
pi irtion will be used as a botanical gar- 
den. The great hall in the rear will 
contain a $5,000 alumni memorial win- 
dow (16 by 30), show;n in cut. The 
southwest corner will he the residence 
.of the president. Cost, with ground, 
exclusive of furnishing, $140,000. 

Normanskill. — Flows into the Hud- 
son below the city. Named after Al- 
bert Andrissen Bradt de Noorman, who 
settled here in 1630 and died in 1686. 
(See Vale of Tawasentha.) 

Odd Fellows, The Independent 
Order of, has four supreme grand 
lodges. One each in the United States, 
the German Empire, Australia, and 
New Zealand. In certain respects the 
Sovereign Grand Lodge of the United 
States has jurisdiction over the order 



in all these countries. In the United 
States there are 51 subordinate grand 
lodges, 42 grand encampments, 7,650 
subordinate lodges, and 1,878 subordi- 
nate encampments. Besides these there 
are 1,031 Rebekah degree lodges, com- 
posed of Odd Fellows of the Scarlet 
degree, their wives and daughters. 
The total membership of the order in 
this country is 515,320. Amount ex- 
pended by the order throughout the 
country for relief in 1883 was $2,- 
000,000. Total revenue 1 883, $6,000,- 
000. Total membership in New York 
State, 43,500. 

The first regular Odd Fellow's lodge 
in the United States was Washington 
Lodge, instituted in Baltimore, April 
26, 1819. The first lodge regularly in- 
stituted in this State was Shakspeare 
lodge, located at No. 17 Fair St., now 
135 Fulton St., New York. 

In September, 1827, a charter was 
granted to Past Grand Russell Watts 
and Brothers John Snyder, John Os- 
borne, Isaac L. Welch, and Peter H. 
Snyder, to open a lodge in Albany, 
and Nov. 7th of that year Philanthrop- 
ic Lodge No. 5 was instituted in reg- 
ular form. This lodge has for many 
years been extinct, as has also Union 
Lodge No. 8. 

In 1828, three of the six lodges in 
the State were located at Albany, and 
that year the Grand Lodge of the State 
was removed from New York to this 
city, and remained here until 1836. 
Among the representative Albanians 
who were members of the order at 
that time, were John O. Cole, John 
Van Ness Yates, Joseph Barton, Wm. 
L. Osborn, Daniel P. Marshal, Ch^.s. 
Dillon, Jacob Henry, Richard Starr, 
Alex. Cameron, Wm. Lelachure, Mal- 
colm McPherson, and P. H. Snyder. 

There are at present fourteen subor- 
dinate Odd Fellows lodges in this city, 
as follows : Hope Lodge No. 2, insti- 
tuted April 24, 1826; rcinstituted July 
15, 1844; Clinton Lodge No. 7, insti- 



ODD 



tuted Jan. 9, 1829; reinstituted Aug. 
26, 1846; John O. Cole, father of F. 
W. Cole, was its first Noble Grand. 
German Colonial Lodge, No. 16, insti- 
tuted Feb. 13, 1835; Jacob Henry, 
first Noble Grand. American Lodge, 
No. 32, instituted Dec. 5, 1837; rein- 
stituted Feb. II, 1840; O. A. Kingsley, 
first Noble Grand. Firemen's Lodge, 
No. 19, instituted Jan. 4, 1838. Phoenix 
Lodge, No. 41, instituted Oct. 3, 1840. 
Samaritan Lodge, No. 93, instituted 
Aug. 4, 1843. Mount Hermon Lodge, 
No. 38, instituted June 18, 1847. Scho- 
negh-ta-da Lodge, No. 87, instituted 
Dec. I, 1850. Mount Carmel Lodge, 
No. 76, instituted Dec. i, 1850. Beav- 
erwyck Lodge, No. 261, instituted Dec. 
9, 1870; H. A. Anthony, first Noble 
Grand. Mountaineer Lodge, No. 321, 
instituted May 14, 1872. Albany City 
Lodge, No. 385, instituted April 6, 
1874. Capital City Lodge, No. 440, 
instituted Sept. 23, 1875; L. De Blaey, 
first Noble Grand. These 14 lodges 
have a total membership of 1,735. 

Albany has also two encampments 
which are composed of Odd Fellows 
who have passed through the five de- 
grees in the subordinate lodges : New 
York Encampment No. I, instituted 
1829; reinstituted Sept. 23, 1846. (This 
was the first encampment in the State, 
and for a time was endowed with Grand 
Encampment powers.) Albany En- 
campment No. 58, instituted Aug. 23, 
1871. 

Among the prominent men who 
have been connected with the order 
since its first inception in this city, in 
addition to those already named, are : 
Robert H. Pruyn, EU Perry, Rufus 
King, John O. Cole, Hooper C. Van 
Voorst, Gen. John Groesbeck, R. G. 
Beardslee, Jacob Henry, John R. Tay- 
lor, Thomas W. Van Alstyne, H. D. 
Curran, Cornelius Ten Broeck, Albert 
H. Brown, John Morgan, Warren S. 
Low, Stephen Van Schaick, S. G. 
Courtney, J. H. Van Antwerp, Wm. 



N. Strong, Geo. B. Steele, Joel Mun- 
sell, John R. Vernam, A. P. Palmer, 
Wm. A. Young, Wm. A. Wharton, 
Wm. A. Rice, R. H. Waterman, Lewis 
Rathbone, Jas. W. Cox. 

Albany has furnished the following 
Grand Masters and Grand Patriarchs 
for this State; Grand Masters, Jetur 
Gardner, Cornelius Glen, Wm. Lacy. 
Grand Patriarchs, John R. Taylor, 
Horace D. Curran, Cornelius Glen, 
Francis Rogers. 

Fred. W. Grant is the present Dis- 
trict Deputy Grand Master of Albany 
District, and E. E. Richmond, District 
Deputy Grand Patriarch. 

There is a Funeral Aid Association 
connected with the order which at 
present numbers 372 members. Upon 
the death of a member, the surviving 
members each pay $1.10 into the treas- 
ury, $1.00 of which from each goes to 
the family of the deceased. 

The Grand Committee of this dis- 
trict is composed of all Past Noble 
Grands in good standing. The com- 
mittee has stated meetings quarterly to 
legislate in the interests of the order. 
Francis Rodgers, sec. 

For eight consecutive years, com- 
mencing with Wm. A. Rice in 1846, 
and ending with Gilbert L. Wilson in 
1853, the Presidents of the Young 
Men's Association were taken from the 
membership of Hope Lodge No. 2. 
Besides these, five other Presidents of 
the Association, commencing with 
Robert H. Pruyn in 1838, and ending 
with Robert L. Johnson in 1859, were 
members of this lodge, making thir- 
teen in all. 

About five years ago a movement 
was made by F. W. Cole (then Dis- 
trict Deputy Grand Master) and a few 
energetic members of the fraternity, to 
secure a hall where all the lodges could 
meet, and Perry Hall, North Pearl st., 
was leased and three suitable lodge 
rooms fitted up. All the lodges, ex- 
cept Beaver wyck No. 261, now meet 



121 



OLD 



there; the hall being dedicated June 
II, 1879, since which time the order 
has flourished finely. Three city papers 
devote much space each week to Odd- 
fellowship, the department in two of 
them being in charge of Daniel H. 
Turner, and the third is edited by D. 
A. A. Nichols. 

Old Books. — To persons of genu- 
ine Uterary taste, there is a charm 
about old book stores which the places 
where only fresh wares are on sale do 
not possess. An old book store is 
always a mine of concealed possibili- 
ties, where we may dig up at any time 
a literary treasure, worth, to us, its 
weight in gold. New books are all 
very well, but any one who has money 
may buy them. Old books are to be 
had only for the searching. Then, one 
is free to spend hours in handling over 
and peering into second-hand books — 
a liberty which cannot be taken with 
new ones. Again, the antique book- 
seller, to be successful, must know 
books thoroughly inside and out, and 
is generally almost as glad to talk 
about his wares as to sell them. Nat- 
urally his store becomes a sort of head- 
quarters for the literary guild, who 
meet to talk over their favorite authors 
and editions. Such, at least, is the 
case with the store of Joseph McDon- 
ough, 30 North Pearl street. Its pro- 
prietor has gradually increased his 
business from a few shelves to a store 
75 feet deep and 16 feet high, lined to 
the top and rear with all sorts of books 
from a New England Primer to Bayle's 
Critical Dictionary. He is buying sec- 
ond-hand books constantly, and an 
ordinary private library is as completely 
absorbed in this mammoth collection 
as the Buddhist's dew drop, when it 
— " slips into the shining sea." 

Of late, Mr. McDonough has attended 

the trade sales to pretty good purpose, 

and his shelves and counters show 

9 



many new books, all marked below 
the regular rates. His trade in new 
and second-hand school books is some- 
thing remarkable. His catalogues, 
pubUshed frequently, are sent free to 
any person of a bookish bent who may 
apply for them, and are much sought 
after. His store is an Albany institu- 
tion well worth visiting. 

Old Capitol, The, which stood at 
the head of the widest part of State St., 
directly in front of the New Capitol, 
was torn down in the summer of 1883. 
Its corner-stone was laid April 23, 
1806, and a year or two after it was 
ready for occupancy, having been built 
at a cost of $110,688.42, of which the 
State paid $73,488.42; the county, 
$3,000, and the city, $34,200. 

Old Houses.— One of the most in- 
teresting features of Albany is its old 
houses, of which the most noteworthy 
are hereafter mentioned : 

The Staats House, cor. State and 
Pearl, is regarded as the oldest edifice 
in the city. It is one of two which stood 
there when South Pearl was a lane, 
entered by a gate. When the street 
was widened, the upper house, known 
as Lewis's tavern, was taken away. 
There formerly ran across the front of 
these two houses, under the eaves, in 
iron letters, the words Anno Domini, 
and below, over the upper story, the 
figures, also in iron, 1667. When the 
upper house was taken away, the word 
Anno was left on the house still stand- 
ing, and is there yet. 

Pemberton House, cor. Columbia 
and North Pearl. W^hen constructed, 
no two adjoining rooms were on the 
same level; the ceilings were not 
plastered, but the beams and sleepers 
were polished and waxed, and the 
jambs of the fire-place faced with 
porcelain, ornamented with scripture 
scenes. In earlier days this house was 
occupied by the Widow Visscher. It 



OLD 



was especially distinguished as the 
lodging place for Indians when they 
came to Albany for the purpose of 
trading their furs, too often for rum 
and worthless ornaments. Here many 
stirring scenes transpired, when the 
Indians held their pow-wows, and be- 
came uproarious under the influence of 
strong drink. At such times the widow 
would use her broomstick freely. It was 
a potent sceptre in her hands in 
restoring order, for the most stalwart 
Indian who had once felt its power, 
looked upon it with awe. 

Vanderheyden Palace stood on 
Pearl St., on what is now the site of 
Perry building. The " palace " was 
built in 1725 by Johannes Beekman. 
The bricks were said to have been im- 
ported from Holland, and the house 
was one of the best specimens of Dutch 
architecture in the state. It was occu- 
pied by Mr. Beekman as his family 
residence until his death in 1756, after 
which his two daughters resided in it 
until a short time previous to the Rev- 
olution. In 1778 the mansion was 
purchased by Mr. Jacob Vanderheyden. 
The dimensions were fifty feet front by 
twenty feet in depth, having a hall and 
two rooms on a floor. (See Elm Tree 
Corner.) The edifice was so antique 
that it arrested the antiquarian fancy of 
Washington Irving, and is described 
by him in the story of Dolph Heyliger, 
in " Bracebridge Hall," as the resi- 
dence of Herr Antony Vanderheyden. 
The weather-vane, a horse under great 
stress of speed, now ghtters above the 
peaked turret of the portal at Sunny- 
side, Mr. Irving having secured that 
relic to adorn his country seat. 

The Lydius House stood till 1832 
on the northeast cor. of State and 
Pearl. (See Elm Tree Corner.) It 
was built expressly for a parsonage. 
The bricks, tiles, iron and woodwork 
were all imported from Holland. They 
came over with the church bell and 
pulpit in 1657. The partitions were 



mahogany, and the exposed beams 
ornamented with carvings in high re- 
lief, representing the vine and fruit of 
the grape. To show the relief more 
perfectly, the beams were painted 
white. Balthazar Lydius was its only 
occupant for many years. He was an 
eccentric old bachelor, and was the 
terror of all the boys. He was a tall, 
thin Dutchman, with a bullet head, 
fond of his pipe and bottle, and gloried 
in celibacy until his life was in the 
"sere and yellow leaf." Then he 
gave a pint of gin for a squaw, and 
calling her his wife, lived with her as 
such until his death, in 181 5. When 
his fine old mansion was demolished it 
was believed to have been the oldest 
brick building in the United States. 

The Van Rensselaer Mansion, at 
the head of N. Broadway, was erected 
in 1765, and is a fine piece of architec- 
ture. It is commonly known as the 




THE PATROON'S." 



Patroon's, and until lately was occupied 
by his descendants. The front door 
opens directly into a spacious hall, 
upon the walls of which is paper of 
most curious and elaborate design, put 
on when the house was built, having 
been imported from Holland expressly 
for the purpose. It is still in good 
condition. 



[23 



OLD 



The Van Rensselaer Mansion in 
Greenbush stands about opposite the 
blast furnace, and is supposed by some 
to have been built by Johannes Van 
Rensselaer (see Patroon) as early as 




OLt) HOUSE in GREENBUSH. 

1663, perhaps earlier. It is of brick 
brought from Holland. An addition 
was built in 1 740. The original build- 
ing was used as a fort, and some of the 
stone port-holes are visible in the walls. 
In the newer part are 40 or 50 curious 
tiles, representing Scripture scenes. A 
short distance below the house is the 
old burying ground of the Van Rens- 
selaer family. (See article by L.. B. 
Clover in Scribner's for Oct., 1873.) 

Schuyler Mansion, head of Schuy- 
ler St., a little west of S. Pearl, is of 
brick with a closed octagonal porch in 
front. It was built by Mrs. S. while 
her husband. Gen. Philip Schuyler, 
was in England in 1 760-1. (The old 
family mansion, large and highly orna- 
mented in the Dutch style, stood near- 
ly upon the site of the present City 
Hall, and was taken down in 1800.) In 
this latter mansion Gen. Schuyler and 
family dispensed a princely hospitality 
for almost 40 years. When Gen. Bur- 
goyne surrendered at Saratoga in 1777, 
he and other prisoners were sent for- 
ward to Albany, Gen. Schuyler writing 
to his wife to give the English general 
the very best reception in her power. 
"The British commander was well re- 



ceived," writes the Marquis de Chas- 
tellux, " and lodged in the best apart- 
ment in the house. An excellent sup- 
per was served him, the honors of 
which were done with so much grace 
that he was affected even to tears, and 
said with a deep sigh : ' Indeed, this is 
doing too much for the man who has 
ravaged . their lands and burnt their 
dwelUngs.' " In 1 781 apian was laid 
to capture Gen. Schuyler and take him 
to Canada. A party of Tories, Cana- 
dians and Indians surrounded the house 
for several days, and at length forced 
an entrance. The family collected in 
an upper room, forgetting to take with 
them an infant child sleeping in the 
nursery. The mother was flying back 
to the rescue when the General pre- 
vented her, but the third daughter 
(afterwards the wife of the last of the 
Patroons) rushed down stairs, snatched 
her sister from the cradle and bore her 




SCHUYLER MANSION. 



OUT 



124 



off in safety. As she sprang up the 
stairs an Indian hurled a sharp toma- 
hawk at her, which cut her dress within 
a few inches of the infant's head and 
struck the stair rail at the lower turn. 
where the dent is still pointed out. 




HISTORIC STAIR-CASE. 

The assailants were frightened from 
their purpose and fled to Canada, car- 
rying with them much of the General's 
plate, but not the General. In this 
house Lafayette, Count de Rochambeau, 
Baron Steuben, Aaron Burr, Benjamin 
Franklin, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, 
and many other notable personages 
were entertained. Dec. 14, 1780, 
Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth 
Schuyler were married in this house, 
and another notable wedding that took 
place here was that of Mrs. Mcintosh 
(who owned the property) to ex-Presi- 
dent Fillmore. 

Out-door Sports are keenly en- 
joyed in Albany, and various clubs are 
organized for their promotion. The 
fashion, however, changes from year to 
year, and base -ball and rowing, which 
have both had an enthusiastic follow- 
ing, are now somawhat neglected. 

Rowing. — For what Albany has 
achieved by the oar, see an article in the 



Hand-Book for 1881, contributed by 
Mr. Henry W. Garfield. At present, 
the only clubs are the Mutual and the 
Albany Rowing Club. The Mutual is 
ofiicered as follows : President, Wm. 
G. Janes; vice-pres., George L. Thom- 
as; sec, Chauncey P. Williams, Jr.; 
capt., Chauncey P. WilHams, Jr. ; lieut., 
Peter Snyder; trustees, Charles Piep- 
enbrink, Henry W. Garfield, Edward 
Miggael, Matthew Duggan, Robert 
McCann. 

The Albany Yacht Club was or- 
ganized in 1870, has a membership of 
65, and nine of the fleetest boats on 
the Hudson, viz., Cynthia, Breeze, 
Artful-Dodger, Albani, Psyche, Hi-Pi, 
Carrie Blanchard, Aimee and Mary 
Alice. The club-house is situated in 
East Albany, and was built on shares. 
Meetings are held the first ^Monday of 
each month, and the annual meeting 
the first Monday in May, when officers 
are elected. Dues, $g a year; initiation 
fee, ^5. Annual regatta in September, 
open to all boats between Catskill and 
Lansingburg. Commodore, C. S. Bab- 
cock; vice-commodore, A. J. Shaffer; 
sec, A. R. Lynd; treas., G. H. Wag- 
goner. 

RiDGEFiELD ATHLETIC Club. — In- 
corporated April, 1884. Capital stock, 
$7,500, divided into $25 shares. The 
dues for active members are $10; con- 
tributing members, $5; junior mem- 
bers, $5. Grounds l:)elonging to the 
Harper estate on Partridge st. have 
been leased, and are likely to become 
the scene of athletic sports of many 
kinds. Trustees, Geo. W. Van Slyke, 
Edward Bowditch, Ledyard Cogswell, 
Wm. H. McNaughton, Joseph M. 
Lawson, John L. Van Valkenburgh, 
George Story, Chas. L. Pruyn, John B. 
Marsh, Albert H. Scattergood, Richard 
L. Annesely, John W. McNamara, Ed- 
ward J. Wheeler and George H. 
Stevens. 

Albany Bicycle Club, The, was 



125 



OVE— PAT 



organized Aug. 24th, 1880, with thir- 
teen members, and was soon added to 
the League of American Wheelmen. 
May 1st, 1884, it was incorporated 
under the laws of 1875, ^^^^^ ^ mem- 
bership of 113; 37 applicants are 
awaiting election, and it is expected 
that in a month or two the membership 
will reach the limit of 200. Officers 
for the year ending Feb. 1885 : Pres., 

D. W. Shanks; vice-pres., Howard 
Martin; sec; A. J. Gallien; treas., E.J. 
Wheeler; correspondent, D. M. Kin- 
near; captain, A. H. Scattergood; ist 
lieut., F. B. Holdridge; 2d lieut., G. 
Paddock; standard bearer, E. Vine; 
bugler, C. H. Rose; surgeon, G. F. 
Brooks, M. D.; trustees, Pres. D. W. 
Shanks, ex officio; L. W. Pratt, F. B. 
Hubbard, F. L. Ames, F. Lathrop, C. 

E. Countryman, J. G. Burch, Jr., W. H. 
McNaughton, G. F. Brooks, N. Chase. 
The elegant mansion owned by E. D. 
Brainard, situated cor. Lark and Lan- 
caster sts., has been leased for a term 
of years. In the rear and attached to 
it is a commodious out-building for the 
storage of machines, of which at the 
present time the club has in its pos- 
session about sixty. The uniform is 
navy blue throughout with white sun- 
helmet or blue cap. Colors are red 
and white. The privileges of the park 
are open to the club till 9 A. M., but 
efforts will be made to have the same 
privileges accorded the bicycle as are 
granted to any other wheeled vehicle. 

The Caledonian Club organized in 
January, 1874, enjoys a tield-day once 
a year. The Albany Turn Verein, a 
German association, was incorporated 
in 1869; meets at 393 Washington ave. 
The Albany Athletic Association has 
rooms, and holds meetings through the 
year. The Albany City Curling Club is 
composed largely of Scotchmen. The 
Tennis Club have a large building at 
Jay St., cor. Swan. A Can(e Club is a 
late institution, and there are one or 
two gun clubs. 



Overslaugh, from over slag. A bar, 
in the marine language of the Dutch. 
Bartlett says, in his " Dictionary of 
Americanisms": "The overslaugh in 
the Hudson river, near Albany, on 
which steamboats and other vessels 
often run aground, is, I beUeve, the 
only locality to which this term is now 
applied among us." 

Parks. — Albany has one spacious 
£nd beautiful park (see Washington 
Park), but most of the others are sim- 
ply better than no parks. 

Academy Park. — See separate 
head. 

Clinton Park. — West of N. Pearl 
street and south of Clinton ave. Has 
been pretty much destroyed by a broad 
walk crossing it diagonally. Area, 
16,415 square feet. 

Delaware Square. — South of Mad- 
ison avenue and east of Lark street. 
Area, 64,000 square feet. 

Capitol Park. — In front of the Old 
Capitol, on Eagle street. Area, 99,000 
square feet. 

TowNSEND Park. — Area, 20,700 
square feet. See separate head. 

Hudson Avenue Park. — A little 
breathing spot between Union and 
Lil)erty streets, on Hudson avenue. 
Area, 10,851 square feet. 

Bleecker Park. — Area, 16,275 
square feet. See separate head. 

Beverwyck Park. — Five acres be- 
tween Washington avenue, Ontario, 
and Partridge streets. 

Van Rensselaer Park. — West of 
Ten Broeck, north of Second street. 
Area, 42,400 square feet. 

St. Joseph's Park. — West of Ten 
Broeck, north of First street. Area, 
42,900 square feet. The total area of 
the small parks of the city is about 14 
acres. They are all, with the excep- 
tion of Capitol park, in the hands of 
the Park Commissioners. 

Patroon. — The Charter of Privileges 



PAV— PAW 



[26 



and Exemptions, by which the feudal 
system of Patroonship was instituted in 
America, was passed by the Assembly 
of the XIX and Commissioners of the 
States General, June 17, 1629. By this 
charter, as first constituted, all members 
of the West India Company who plant- 
ed a colony of 50 souls over 15 years 
of age were to be acknowledged Pa- 
troons of New Netherlands. They 
were allowed to extend their bound- 
aries 16 miles on the shore of a 
navigable river, or 8 miles on both 
sides, the extent into the interior being 
unl mited. They possessed absolute 
title to the soil; had a monopoly of 
fishing, hunting, and grinding, of all 
mines and minerals, and a pre-emption 
right of buying the colonist's surplus 
grain or cattle; their courts had juris- 
diction in civil and criminal cases, in 
the latter even to punishment by death; 
colonists could not leave the colony 
without written permission, and after 
their terms of service were fulfilled, 
they were compelled to return to Hol- 
land. They were, in fact, little better 
than serfs. Killian'Van Rensselaer, 
a pearl merchant of Amsterdam, availed 
himself of the privileges offered by the 
company (of which he was a home 
director), and acquired title to land 24 
miles up and down the river, and un- 
der the Dutch grant 8 miles each way, 
east and west. Under the English 
government, this was extended in width 
to 24 miles each way from the river, 
making the tract 48 by 24 miles in ex- 
tent. In 1640 the charter, which 
allowed all the privileges enjoyed by 
the feudal barons of Europe, was modi- 
fied, there having arisen a controversy 
between the Patroons and the directors 
in regard to the fur trade and other 
matters. Some authorities say that 
Killian Van Rensselaer never came to 
this country, nor did his son Johannes, 
who succeeded him at his death, in 
1648, but the affairs were administered 
by agents called sellout- fiscaals. Others 



say that KiUian came here, but re- 
turned to Holland, and died at Amster- 
dam; and that his son Johannes also 
came here and built the old mansion 
still standing in Greenbush. (See Old 
Houses.) The first Patroon became 
very lordly in his pretensions, which 
were contested vigorously by the Am- 
sterdam Chamber of the West India 
Company, and it was through these 
quarrels that the land on which this 
city stands was finally rescued from 
feudal tenure. Not so the land in the 
vicinity. Subsequent modifications or 
the charter restricted the Patroon's 
civil powers, but confirmed the re- 
lations between landlord and tenant, 
and from those have arisen Anti- 
Rentism (which see, also, A Bit of 
History.) 

The last Patroon, Gen. Stephen Van 
Rensselaer, fifth in the succession from 
Killian, died Jan. 26, 1839. His son 
Stephen (in his youth called the young 
Patroon, but the entail ceased with his 
father's death), died May 25, 1868, 
aged 80. 

Pavement. — Forty and one-half 
miles of the streets in Albany are 
paved with cobble-stones; 5.75 miles 
with granite block; 1.15 with Telford 
macadam; in ^11 about 47.40 miles of 
paved streers. The average cost of 
cobble-stone pavement per lineal foot, 
$7; average cost of granite block per 
square yard, 32.26; average cost of re- 
pairing exclusive of granite block, 17 
cents per square yard. 

Pawnbrokers are under no restric- 
tions in this city in regard to rates of 
interest, but can charge whatever they 
like. They are obliged to take out a 
$25 license annually, and to report 
daily to the chief of police all articles 
received by them with descriptions of 
the same. Ten and twelve per cent a 
month is frequently charged for money. 
Pa\Yn tickets are made out in the shape 



127 



PEA— PHA 



of a bill of sale; that is, if you pawn 
a hundred dollar gold watch for $20, 
you receive a paper signed by the 
broker stating that he has bought a 
gold watch from you for $20 and 
agreeing to resell it to you for $22, if 
applied for within one month; if, in 
that time, you do not redeem your 
pledge, the watch, according to this 
paper, is his. Profits of the business 
must be enormous; but it is trading on 
the necessities of the poor. There are 
four Ucensed brokers in the city. 

Pearl Street is divided by State st. 
into North and South Pearl sts. South 
Pearl Is really the Bowery, or Cheap- 
side of Albany. It is narrow, and 
many of the buildings (with some no- 
table exceptions) are low and poor. 
But it is a busy spot, especially on Sat- 
urday night, and at the lower end re- 
minds one on Sundays of a foreign 
city. It was called Washington st. for 
a time, because when the Father of his 
Country visited the city he walked 
through it with Gen. Schuyler, from 
his residence at the Schuyler Mansion 
(see Old Houses), to dine with Jere- 
miah Van Rensselaer in North Pearl 
street. Somehow the name did not 
stick. 

North Pearl St., until within a few 
years a place of residences, has been 
widened and greatly improved, and is 
now the business street of the city. 

Penitentiary. — Knox St., south of 
Madison ave. (Take Harnilton st. 
horse cars.) Situated in a park of 12 
or 15 acres in extent, fronting upon a 
magnificent tree-lined avenue, and oc- 
cupying a commanding situation, this 
"castle on the hill " bears little exter- 
nal resemblance to a prison. Its erec- 
tion was begun in 1845, the work of 
construction being done principally by 
prisoners, who were marched from the 
jail and back again each day. The 
south wing was first completed, and 



was made ready for the reception of 
inmates in April, 1846. Amos Pilsbury 
was its first superintendent, and to him, 
in a great measure, is due the system 
which has given the institution its high 
reputation throughout the Union. 
When the state prisons were sinking 
many thousand dollars, the Albany 
Penitentiary was a source of abundant 
revenue to the county. What is known 
as the silent, or Auburn system, was 
adopted from the start. The convicts 
eat and sleep in their cells. They are 
marched to and from their work in 
lock step, with averted faces, and are 
not permitted to speak to each other. 
The discipline that prevails seems al- 
most perfect. They are kept at work, 
most of them, in the shoe shops, al- 
though some brushes and a few chairs 
are made. One great secret of the 
financial success is that for many years 
prisons have been received from the 
United States courts, and from other 
counties in the state, for whom board 
has been paid. These men have been 
set at work, and their labor let out to 
contractors at small, but under the cir- 
cumstances, remunerative wages. On 
the death of Gen. Pilsbury in 1872, he 
was succeeded by his son, Louis D. 
Pilsbury, afterwards appointed general 
superintendent of all the state prisons. 
He was succeeded in March, 1879, by 
John McEwen. The Penitentiary had 
originally only 90 cells; now it has 
625 cells. It has been enlarged to 
more than five times its original size; 
new shops have been built, and a wall 
built inclosing the entire yard of the 
prison. Visitors are allowed to go 
through the institution every day, ex- 
cept Sundays and holidays, on payment 
of 25 cents each. The average num- 
ber of convicts is between 800 and 900, 

Pharmacy, College of.— The Al- 
bany College of Pharmacy was created 
by act of the board of governors of 
Union University at their annual meet- 



PHO— POL 



128 



ing held June 21, i88i,and constitutes 
the Department of Pharmacy of Union 
University. It was incorporated as 
the " Albany College of Pharmacy," 
under the laws of the State of New 
York, August 27, 1881, and its first 
course of lectures opened October 2, 
1881. 

The exercises of the college are held 
in the Albany Medical College build- 
ing. The lecture rooms and labora- 
tories of this commodious and well- 
arranged building are perfectly adapted 
to the needs of the College of Phar- 
macy, and furnished to the faculty at 
the outset the very best facilities for 
imparting instruction. The lectures 
are delivered in the chemical lecture 
room on the first floor, adjoining which 
is the large and well-fitted chemical 
laboratory, where instruction is given 
to the classes in practical chemistry. 
The collections in the different de- 
partments afford the professors ample 
facilities for the illustration of their 
lectures. 

The annual course of instruction 
consists of six lectures each week during 
a period of five months, beginning the 
first Monday in October of each year, 
together with practical laboratory work, 
etc. The course is graded and ex- 
tends over two years; students being 
divided into junior and senior classes, 
consisting of first and second year 
students respectively. 

The diploma of the college confers 
the degree of Graduate in Pharmacy 
(Ph. G.). Applicants for this degree 
must be at least twenty-one years of 
age, of good moral character, have 
attended two full courses of lectures; 
have had at least four years' practical 
experience with some reputable phar- 
macist; have presented to the faculty 
an original thesis and passed a satis- 
factory examination. 

Though recently established, the Col- 
lege of Pharmacy is growing rapidly. 
It had 21 students the first year, 32 the 



second and 37 the third; and it is evi- 
dent that it fills a want long felt in this 
section of the vState. It has already 
an Alumni Association, holding annual 
meetings. Joseph W. Russell is presi- 
dent of the trustees; Dr. Willis G. 
Tucker is president of Faculty; Dr. A. 
B. Huested is secretary. 

Photographs. — (See Veeder.) 

Pier, The, was built in 1825. Is 
nearly 4,400 feet long, 80 feet wide 
and 20 feet high. It encloses a basin 
of 32 acres which makes a harbor for 
1,000 canal boats and 50 vessels of a 
larger class. It cost $130,000. The 
sale of lots on the pier took place in 
the July following its completion, when 
122 lots l^rought 3199,410. Although 
the pier is now nearly forsaken, the 
company is out of debt, and enough 
wharfage is collected to pay for re- 
pairs. Chauncey M. Depew, president. 
The opening in the pier at the foot of 
Maiden lane was authorized in 1836. 

Pinkster.— A negro festival which 
used to be -celebrated on Capitol hill 
when slavery existed in the State. It 
began on the Monday following Whit- 
sunday or Day of Pentecost, and lasted 
a week. The ground was laid out in 
the form of an oblong square, enclosed 
on three sides by rude booths, and here 
the dancing and merry-making took 
place. " Charley of the Pinkster hill," 
an old African negro, was king of the 
revels. After his death the festival 
was not so much observed, and fell 
into disrepute. In 181 1 the common 
council forbade the erection of stalls 
on account of the scenes of disorder 
which prevailed, and so the custom 
died out. 

Police. — The head-quarters of the 
police department are in the City 
Building. The police board, which ex- 
ercises entire control over the depart- 



[29 



POL— POS 



ment, consists of the Mayor, ex officio, 
president, and four commissioners, two 
of each party, elected to serve four 
years. With the exception of the one 
who acts as secretary, for which he 
receives j^500, they serve without pay. 

Precincts. — The city is divided into 
five precincts, each of which is in 
charge of a captain, two sergeants and 
one roundsman. 

The First precinct includes that part 
south of Plamilton and east of Eagle, 
extending to the river and south end of 
the city. Force, 22 patrolmen. Sta- 
tion, No. 59 South Ferry street. 

The Second precinct line extends 
along the river from Hamilton to 
Quackenbush street, up Quackenbush 
and Clinton avenue to Lark, through 
Lark to Spruce, to Eagle, to Hamilton, 
to the river. Force, 20 patrolmen. 
Station, City Building. 

The Third precinct includes all the 
city north of Clinton and east of Lex- 
ington avenues. Force, 22 patrolmen. 
Station, 799 Broadway. 

The Fourth precinct line runs from 
Eagle through Spruce to Lark, thence 
to Clinton avenue, to Lexington ave., 
and along the south line of the city to 
Eagle. Force, 20 patrolmen. Station, 
153 Lancaster street. 

The Fifth precinct includes all west 
of Lexington avenue. Force. 12 patrol- 
men. Station, 284 Central avenue. 

In all, the force consists of the chief, 
salary, $2,500; tive captains, salaries, 
$1,200; 12 sergeants, salaries, $1,000; 
91 patrolmen, salaries, $900; 5 detec- 
tives, with captain; 5 station-house 
keepers; 4 police court officers; one 
property clerk; one police surgeon; 
total, 126. The annual expense of 
running the department is about $125,- 
000. The number of arrests last year 
was 4,893, of which 1,940 were for 
drunkenness; 753 for assaults in the 
third degree; 324 breaches of the 
peace; 231 vagrancy, etc. Few cities of 
its size are freer from crime than Albany. 



Politics. — There are more politics 
to the acre in the city of Albany than 
almost any other locality that can be 
named. To be sure the famous " re- 
gency " no longer exists, but Albany is 
nearly as important a political centre 
as ever. This will always be the case, 
so long as it is the capital of the state. 
In a square fight the city is democratic 
by about 1,500. During the campaigns 
many political clubs are organized, 
only to disband when election is over. 
The Grant club, " stalwart " republican, 
and the Democratic Phalanx, demo- 
cratic, appear to be perennial. (See 
Regency.") 

• Population. — According to the offi- 
cial censuses, Albany in 1790 contain- 
ed 3,506 persons; in iSoo^ 5,349; in 
1810, 10,762; 1820, 12,541; 1830, 
24,238; 1840, 33,762; 1845, 42,139; 
1850, 50,762; 1855, 57,333; i860, 62.- 
367; 1865, 62,613; 1870* 69,422; 
1875 (6 additional wards having been 
erected), 86,013; 1880, 90,758 (see 
Census of 1880). The population in 
1884, estimated about 98,000. 

Post Office, (Government Build- 
ing, which see), cor. Broadway and 
State St. William H. Craig, postmaster; 
Isaac McMurdy, assist. Week days, 
open from 7.30 A. M. to 7.30 P. M. 
I registry and money order dept. open 
from 9 to 5); on Sundays, from 9 to 
10 A. M., and from 6 to 7 P. M. The 
mail is delivered by 32 carriers, who 
make two trips daily throughout the 
city; also to Greenbush, Bath, East and 
West Albany; to Menand's, the ceme- 
tery and to Kenwood. In the business 
par of the city delivery is made five 
times a day. Collections from the let- 
ter boxes are made at the same time 
that the mail is delivered. Extra col- 
lections are made daily, except Sun- 
days, from all boxes in that part of the 
city bounded north by Clinton ave,, 
south by Madison avenue, east by the 



PRE 



river and west by Swan st; 1st collec- 
tion beginning at ii A. M. at Clinton 
ave. and delivered at P. O. at I P. M.; 
2nd collection beginning at 8 P. M. and 
delivered at P. O. at 9.30; also at 7 P. 
M. from boxes on State St., cors. Green 
and Pearl, and on Maiden lane, cors. 
Broadway and N. Pearl. An extra 
collection is made daily, Sundays in- 
cluded, from all boxes bounded north 
by Clinton ave., south by Fourth ave., 
east by the river and west by Lark St., 
between 11 P. M. and 3 A. M. All 
mails close on Sundays at 7 P. M. 
Boxes are rented at $6 to $9 a year; 
drawers at $12 a year. Albany is one 
of the large distributing offices, and 
about 30 clerks are employed. 

Presbyterian Churches. — Presby- 
terianism in Albany dates back to 1 761 
or 2. 

The First church originally occu- 
pied a building which stood on a lot 
boundea by Beaver, William, Grand 
and Hudson sts., but in 1796 moved 
into a brick edifice cor. Beaver and S. 
Pearl st. (see Beaver Block.) A 
third edifice, cor. Hudson ave. and 
Philip St., was opened March 10, 1850, 
and with lecture room afterwards built, 
cost $115,000. This was sold to the 
Methodists (which see) in 1883, and 
in 1883-4 the present beautiful edifice, 
cor. State and Willett sts., facing 
Washington park, was erected. It 
was dedicated May 18, 1884. It is 
built entirely of handsome brown stone, 
from the quaries at East Longmeadow, 
Mass. With its Venetian towers and 
large Romanesque windows, the exter- 
nal appearance of the church is strik- 
ing. The dimensions of the interior 
are 81x76. It contains 120 pews, with 
a seating capacity for 700 persons. 
The pews all face the east. The Sun- 
day school room is on the south side, 
separated from the church proper by 
five large doors, containing glass win- 
dows. These doors can be raised, and 



the Sunday school room connected 
with the church. Cost, $90,000, not 
including the ground, which cost $28,- 
000. The church has had 13 pastors, 
including the present incumbent, Rev. 
Walter D. Nicholas, D.D., who was in- 
stalled Sept. 1 6, 1880. 

Second. — Chapel st. between Maid- 
en lane and Pine. Corner-stone laid 
Oct. II, 1813, and the building dedi- 
cated Sept. 3, 1815; cost, $67,194. It 
has been twice improved and refitted. 
In 1865 a chapel was erected cor. Pine 
and Lodge sts. at the cost of $30,000, 
The ministerial succession has been as 
follows: Rev. John Chester, D.D., 
(1815); Rev. William B. Sprague, 
D.D., (1829 to 1869); Rev. Anson J. 
Upson, D.D., (1870 to 1880); Rev. 
James H. Ecob, D.D., installed March 
15, 1881. Membership, 500; Sunday 
school, 250. Sunday services at 10^ 
and 4; Sunday school at 12. 

Clinton Square. — Cor. Clinton ave. 
and North Pearl st. Corner-stone laid 
July, 1844. Church dedicated Dec. 3, 
1845; ^^'il^ seat 850. House and lot 
cost $24,000; no debt. Organization 
formed Feb. 5, 181 7, by the union of 
the Associate Reformed church (which 
can be traced back to 1796) wiih a 
number of members from the First 
Presbyterian church. At first the con- 
gregation worshipped in the building 
on Montgomery street, known as the 
Bethel; in 1845 it removed to its pres- 
ent edifice. Pastors : Rev. Hooper 
Gumming (181 7-1823), Rev. Joseph 
Hulbert (1823-1824), Rev. John Al- 
burtiss (1825-1828), Rev. William H. 
Williams (i 828-1 830), Rev. William 
Lochead (i 831-1833), Rev. William 
James, D. D. (1834-1835), Rev. Ezra 
A. Huntington, D. D. (1837-1855), 
Rev. Ebenezer Halley, D. D. (185 s- 
1875), Rs^- Horace C. Stanton, in- 
stalled Feb. 27, 1877. Robert Strain, 
clerk of session; Wm. Deyermand, 
president board of trustees; E. Hunt- 
ington Marvin, treasurer. Sunday ser- 



^31 



PRE 



vices, 10:30 A, M. and 7 :30 p. m.; sing- 
ing by choir and congregation; Mr. 
James H. Kelley, musical director. 
Bible school at 2 p. m.; Alexander M. 
Holmes, Sunday-school superintend- 
ent. Lecture, Wednesday, 7:30 P.M. 
Whole number of members enrolled 
since organization, 1,275. Number re- 
ported at close of last year, 300. 

Fourth. — Broadway above CKnton 
avenue. Rev, Charles Wood, pastor. 
The church was organized in 1S29, 
and was a branch from the Second 
church. The first edifice was erected 
where the present one now stands, in 
1830. The first pastor was Rev. E. N. 
Kirk, D. D., who served till 1838, 
when he was succeeded by Rev. Ed- 
ward D. Allen, and he in 1843 ^Y R^'^- 
S. W. Fisher, D. D., Rev. B. N. Martin, 
D. D. (1848-9), Rev. H. Mandeville 
(1850-4), Rev. S. T. Seelye (1855- 
63), Rev. Henry Darling, D. D. (1864- 
81). November, 1881, the present 
pastor took charge. The church edi- 
fice was dedicated Sept. 18, 1866, and 
will seat 1,350. Present church mem- 
bership is 708; Sunday-school, 500. 
The average contributions for benevo- 
lent and congregational purposes are 
over ^20,000 annually. 

State Street. — South side, above 
Swan. Rev. John McC. Holmes, pas- 
tor. Corner-stone laid July 18, 1861; 
house dedicated Oct. 12, 1862; is per- 
pendicular Gothic, III by 69 feet; 
seats 1,000; total cost, including lot, 
organ, etc., $59,626. Sunday-school, 
Horatio N. Snow, supt.; numbers 975, 
and is the largest in the city. Chirch 
membership, 783. The building has 
just been repainted inside and out, and 
is very attractive. The first pastor was 
Rev. A. S. Twombley. He was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Dr. Heckman, Rev. 
Dr. James and Rev. Dr. Holmes. 

Sixth. — Second st., below Lark. 
Sprang from a weekly prayer meeting 
begun in a private house, 276 Lumber 
St., by the efforts of John S. Smith, 



Dec, 1855. A mission Sunday-school 
gathered by him the next year, at 166 
Third St., soon required larger quarters, 
and in March, 1858, with Wm. H. 
Ross, he purchased Mount Zion Meth- 
odist Chapel, now Primary School No. 
23. This property was transferred in 
1864, to a missionary society of the 
Fourth Presbyterian Church, and the 
Sixth Church was organized here Dec. 
8, 1869, with 65 members, of whom 46 
came by letter from the Fourth Church. 
Rev, A. H. Dean, who had gathered 
the congregation, was installed pastor 
May 5, 1870. The present edifice was 
erected in 1871, and cost, including 
lot, about $50,000, of which about 
$25,000 was provided by the mission- 
ary society of the Fourth Church; 
a mortgage debt of $17,000 remained 
upon the building. Rev. A. H. Dean 
resigned in June, 1873. Rev. William 



Durant was installed Dec. g, i^ 



By 



the generous aid of the other Pres- 
byterian churches in the city, the debt 
was entirely removed March 24, 1880. 
In October of the same year extensive 
repairs and improvements were made 
to the building. Rev. Wm. Durant 
resigned April 30, 1882, and the pres- 
ent pastor. Rev. J. D. Countermine, 
was installed Dec. 20, 1882. Present 
church officers : Prentice Rodgers, 
clerk of session; Wm. Ackroyd, treas. 
of trustees; W. G. Winne, supt. of 
Sunday - school. Organizations for 
Christian work : Augustinian Society, 
Robert Friday, moderator; Woman's 
Foreign Missionary Society, Mrs. B. 
W. Johnson, pres.; Dale Mission Band, 
Miss Gussie Green, leader; The Earn- 
est Worker's Circle, Mrs. J. D. Coun- 
termine, pres. Whole number of 
church members enrolled, 562; present 
number, 300; Sunday-school, 397. 
Sunday services at loi a. m. and "jh 
p. M.; Sunday-school at 12 M, 

United Presbyterian. — Lancaster 
St., near Eagle. The present edifice 
was first occupied as a place of public 



PUB 



132 



worship in January, 186 1. It is a neat 
and substantial building, 81x58. Cost, 
including lot, ^20,000 (ante bellum 
prices). The congregation formerly 
worshipped in the building cor. Chapel 
and Canal sts., first occupied January, 
1802. The first pastor of the con- 
gregation was Rev. John McDonald, 
who officiated from January, 1801, to 
March, 1819. After his resignation, 
the congregation transferred their ec- 
clesiastical connection from the Pres- 
bytery of Montreal to that of Cambridge. 
Rev. James Martin, D. D., was the 
next pastor, who served from May, 
1824, until May, 1842, when he was 
succeeded by Rev. R. J. Hammond, 
from November, 1843, until September, 
1844. The present pastor. Rev. S. F. 
Morrow, D. D., was ordained and in- 
stalled July, 1846. Sunday services, 
10 :30 A. M., and 4 P. u. The Sabbath- 
school, 3 r. M; Mr. William J. Patton, 
superintendent. 

West End.— Cor. Third st. and N. 
Y. C. ave. Dedicated March 25, 1877. 
Cost, including lot, ^8,250; no debt. 
Will seat 550. June 3, 1878 a church 
was organized, consisting of 45 mem- 
bers; present membership, 130. Pastor, 
Rev. Oliver Hemstreet; elders, Thos. 
R. Blackburn, A. H. Wells, John 
Bronk, David Downs; treas, James 
Spoor; Sunday school supt., John 
Blackburn. Services at 10^ A. M. and 
7^ p. M.; Sunday school at 2 P. M. 

Sprague Chapel. — State st., cor. 
Lexington ave. Henry Patton, supt. 

Public Instruction. —The Board of 
Public Instruction is composed of 
twelve members, and was created by 
chapter 444, Laws of 1866. Four 
members go out of office each year, 
and their successors are chosen at the 
annual election — two democrats and 
two republicans. The board has entire 
control of the public schools; fixes the 
grades of study, appoints teachers, 
builds, maintains, and regulates school- 



houses, etc. No salary is attached to 
the office. The rooms of the board 
are in the High School Building on 
Eagle St., cor. Columbia, where meet- 
ings are held on the first and third 
Monday evenings in each month, ex- 
cept August. President of board, Al- 
den Chester; supt. of schools and sec, 
Charles W. Cole. 

Schools. — The public schools are 
24 in number, with sittings for 11,840 
pupils. The number of scholars en- 
rolled is 13,914; the average attend- 
ance 9,059. The schools are located 
as follows : 

No. I. — 310 South Pearl St.; Julia 
M. Janes, principal; 312 sittings; aver- 
age attendance, 244. 

No. 2. — 27 and 29 Chestnut st.; 
Lewis H. Rockwell; 600 sittings; 
average attendance, 314. 

No. 3. — 6 Watervliet ave; Eleanor 

F. Dickson; 130 sittings; attendance, 
121. 

No. 5. — 206 N. Pearl st.; John A. 
Howe; 600 sittings; attendance, 432. 

No. 6. — 105 Second St.; Almond 
Holland; 617 sittings; attendance, 
588. 

No. 7. — 56 Canal St.; C. E. Frank- 
lin; 211 sittings; attendance, 270. 

No. 8. — 157 Madison ave.; John E. 
Sherwood; 448 sittings; attendance, 
386. 

No. 9. — South Ferry and Dallius; 
Jennie Simpson; 210 sittings; attend- 
ance, 119. 

No. 10. — 182 Washington ave.; 

G. H. Benjamin; 338 sittings; attend- 
ance, 292. 

No. II. — 409 Madison ave.; Josiah 
H. Gilbert; 686 sittings; attendance, 
602. 

No. 12 — Washington ave. and Robin 
St.; E. E. Packer; 786 sittings; attend- 
ance, 732. 

No. 13. — Broadway and Lawrence; 
P. H. McQuade; 524 sittings; attend- 
ance, 373. 

No. 14. — 70 Trinity place, James L. 




THE HIGH SCHOOL. 

[OGDEN AND WRIGHT, ARCHITECTS.] 



13: 



Bothweli; 928 sittings; attendance, 
808. 

No. 15. — Herkimer and Franklin; 
Levi Cass; 944 sittings; attendance, 
832. 

No. 17, — Second ave. and Stephen; 
Martha Winne; 448 sittings; attend- 
ance, 415. 

No. 18. — Madison and Western 
aves. ; Kate McAuley; 224 sittings; 
attendance, 100. 

No. 19. — 54 Canal St.; Mary A. 
Simpson; 224 sittings; attendance, 195. 

No. 20. — Mohawk St., North Albany; 
T. S. O'Brien; 616 sittings; attend- 
ance, 352. 

No. 21. — 658 Clinton avenue; A. F. 
Onderdonk; 764 sittings; attendance, 
582. 

No. 22. — Second street, west of Lex- 
ington avenue; Jennie A. Utter; 504 
sittings; attendance, 334. 

No. 2^. — 142 Second street; Lizzie 
McCarthy; 300 sittings; attendance, 
288. 

No. 24. — 417 Madison ave.; Euretta 
Crannell; 576 sittings; attendance, 
506. 

No. 25. — Morton above Hawk; 
Mary L. HotaUng; 448 sittings; at- 
tendance, 168. 

High School. — Eagle and Steuben; 
Prof. John E. Bradley, principal; 607 
sittings; attendance, 527. In connec- 
tion with the High school is a training 
school for teachers; average number 
of pupils, 41. 

P'l NANCES. — The total income of the 
board for the year ended Aug. 31, 
1883, was $313,155.08, of which S164,- 
700.00 was raised by tax, $87,048.37 
was carried over from the preceding 
year, and $47,354.67 was received 
from the State; expenditures, $225,- 

055-I3- 

The cost per pupil, based on total 
expenditure and registered number, is 
$16.1 y (which includes new buildings). 
The estimated value of lots and 
buildings under the control of the 



QUA— QUI 

board is $800,000. Salaries of teach- 
ers range from $1,800 to $350. 
The principal of the High school re- 
ceives $3,200. The net cost of pupils in 
the High school, based on registered 
number, is $38.28. 

The High School Building, of 
which a cut is given, was erected in 
1875-6, on the lot formerly occupied 
by the old reservoir, and has 85 feet 
front on Eagle street, 135 on Steuben, 
and 120 on Columbia. It is domestic 
Gothic in style, and admirably ar- 
ranged for the purpose for which it 
was intended. Architects, Ogden & 
Wright. Cost, $140,000. The High 
school was first opened as the Free 
Academy, at 119 State street, in Sep- 
tember, 1868, and moved into its new 
quarters May 4, 1876. 

Quaker Meeting House, on Plain 
St., below Grand, is an extremely 
modest building standing well back 
from the street. It was erected in 
1835 ; is 36x42, and will seat about 400 
persons. Cost, $5,000. 

Quinn's News Room and Stands. 

— One of the best appointed and best 
served news rooms and stationery 
stores in the State is that kept by B. 
Quinn, at 498 Broadway, second door 
from Maiden lane (the street on which 
both depots discharge their passengers, 
and the shortest route to the Capitol.) 
The passer-by is almost certain to be 
attracted by the display of novelties in 
the show windows, for " the latest " is 
always found there. No book, paper, 
magazine, photograph, or anything else 
in the trade, makes its appearance in 
New York but what in twenty-four 
hours it can be had at Quinn's. His 
display in the Christmas and Easter 
card and valentine season is admired by 
thousands. He seeks in every respect 
to cater to refined taste, and his goods 
of all sorts are on the average of a 
much finer quality than can be found 



RAI— REF 1 

in an ordinary stock, although his 
prices are always reasonable. Mr. 
Quinn's business is constantly growing, 
and every year sees an increase of 
stock and extension in variety. Par- 
ticular attention is paid to fine sta- 
tionery. No place in the city pretends 
to keep so large an assortment of 
theatrical literature, photographs, etc. 
It is a favorite resort for ladies, who, 
in their shopping expeditions, are sure 
to find at Mr. Quinn's something to 
delight, amuse and instruct, while the 
courtesy which is shown by the pro- 
prietor and his assistants to every 
visitor, makes it always a pleasure to 
"drop in"; and to do this is to be- 
come a customer. 

Mr. Quinn also has two news stands, 
one near the northeast and the other 
near the southwest corners of State 
and Pearl sts., always kept stocked with 
the most desirable wares known to the 
news vender's trade; and large amounts 
of goods are disposed of in these busy 
resorts. In short, Mr. Quinn may well 
be styled a model news-man. 

Railroad Depots. — But two in the 

city; the Central & Hudson River 
and the Boston & Albany railroads 
occupying the Union depot, just north 
of Maiden lane and east of Broadway, 
and the Rensselaer & Saratoga and 
Susquehanna divisions of the Delaware 
& Hudson Canal Co.'s road, having 
their depot at the foot of Maiden lane. 
The cars of the latter road run along- 
side the steamboat landing, and during 
navigation unload passengers there 
also. The West Shore trains arrive 
and depart from the depot foot of 
Maiden lane. For railroads see Boston 
& Albany, Central & Hudson River, 
Delaware & Hudson Canal Co., and 
West Shore. 

Reformed Churches.— The Re- 
formed Dutch was the religion of this 
colony. 



34 

First Church. — Cor. N. Pearl and 
Orange sts., familiarly known as the 
Two Steepled church. The organization 
worshipping here is one of the two 
oldest in America, the other being the 




FIRST reformed CHURCH. 

Collegiate Reformed Church of New 
York. The first pastor was Rev. 
Johannes Megapolensis, who was sent 
over by the Patroon at his own expense 
in 1642. The church was for some 
time sustained by the public revenue, 
and in 1686 one hundred and fifty 
acres of land were granted it. Children 
of the colony were not allowed to be 
baptized elsewhere. For more than 
140 years (till 1782) services were con- 
ducted in Dutch. The first edifice was 
near Fort Orange, on what is now 
Steamboat square; Church st., in that 
vicinity, receiving its name for prox- 
imity thereto. This building was 34x19, 
and cost ^32. In 1656 a new edifice 
was erected at the intersection of what 
are now State st. and Broadway. The 
dead were buried under this church, 
and as late as 1852-3 coffins were ex- 




^^^^'^s^-jsy^-''^^^^-^~'^^^^^ ~' 



MADISON AVENUE REFORMED CHURCH 

[with proposed tower.] 



135 



REG 



humed. In 171 5 a new building (see 
Antiquities) was erected over this 
one, and stood for 91 years, when the 
site was sold to the city for $5,000, and 
the materials worked into the Second 
Church on Beaver st. The present 
edifice was dedicated in 1799, but its 
interior has been modified three times : 
in 1820, 1850 and i860. It will seat 
1,200. The organ, with 3,000 pipes, is 
the largest in the city, and cost $12,000. 
The bell, key D flat, weighs 3,656 lbs. 
The ministerial succession has been as 
follows: Johannes Megapolensis (1642 
to 1649); Gideon Schaets (1652-74); 

Niewenhuysen (1675) ; Godfriedus 

Dellius (1683-1699); Johannes Petrus 
Nucella (1699-1702); Johannes Ly- 
dius ( 1 703-1 709); Petrus Van Dries- 
sen (171 2-1 739); Cornelius Van Schie 
( 1 733-1 744); Theodorus Frelinghuy- 
sen ( 1 746-1 760); Eilardus Westerlo 
( 1 760-1 790); John Bassett (1787- 
1805); John B.Johnson (i 796-1802); 
John M. Bradford (1805-1820); John 
DeWitt (1813-1815); John Ludlow 
( 1 823-1 833); Thomas E. Vermilye 
(1835-1839) ; Duncan Kennedy(i84i- 
1855); Ebenezer P. Rogers (1856- 
1862); RufusW. Clark (1862-1883.) 
At present without a pastor. 

Madison Avenue, cor. Swan. Rev. 
Wesley R. Davis,pastor. Until 181 6, this 
church, together with the First, consti- 
tuted the one Collegiate Dutch church 
of the city of Albany. At the time of 
division into two separate bodies, there 
were two houses of worship — the one 
in North Pearl street, still occupied by 
the First church, the other in Beaver 
street, which latter was replaced in 
1881 by the present elegant edifice in 
Madison avenue. The Beaver, street 
building was at first styled the South 
church, but afterward the Middle 
Dutch church, when an additional 
structure had been erected in Ferry 
street for a third organization. The 
pastors in collegiate charge at the time 
of separation were Drs. John M. Brad- 



ford and John De Witt, of whom the 
latter became the first sole pastor of 
the new or Second congregation. And 
the following has been the order of 
ministerial succession, viz. : John De 
Witt, D. D. (181 3- 1823), Isaac N. 
Ferris, D. D. (1824-35), Isaac N. 
Wyckoff, D. D. (1836-65), Joachim 
Elmendorf, D. D. (1865-72), Dwight 
K. Bartlett, D. D. (1874-81), and the 
present pastor, Wesley R.Davis (1882,) 

The present officers are as follows : 
Elders, Stephen McC. La Grange, 
Henry . Proseus, Alexander L. Fryer 
and J. Townsend Lansing; deacons, 
Samuel S. Pruyn, George D. Fearey, 
Percival N. Bouton and William A. 
Smith; trustees, Stephen McC. La 
Grange, William L. M. Phelps, Adrian 
Safford, Vreeland H. Youngman, Jas. 
A. Wilson, George W. Yerks, J. Town- 
send Lansing, George W. Van Slyke, 
Richard V. De Witt. Sunday-school 
superintendent, Vreeland H. Young- 
man. 

Third. — Cor. Green and Ferry sts. 
Rev. E. F. See, pastor. The corner 
stone was laid, April 20, 1837, ^he 
ground having been given by Stephen 
Van Rensselaer. The church was 
organized Dec. 19, 1834. Sept. 28, 
1841, fire took in the cupola and de- 
stroyed everything but the walls. It 
was rebuilt and occupied the following 
summer. 

Fourth. — Schuyler, below S. Pearl; 
Rev. J. F. Neef, pastor; Adam Liebel, 
supt. (A German church.) 

Holland. — 153 Jay st.; Rev. H. K. 
Boer, pastor; W. H. De Rouville, 
supt. 

Regency, The Albany. — A name 
applied by Thurlow Weed to a junto 
of Democratic politicians, including 
Martin Van Buren, William L. Marcy, 
Silas Wright, John A. Dix, Azariah 
Flagg and Edwin Crosswell. These, 
with a few others, regulated the poli- 
tics of the state, and with the kitchen 



REL— RUR 136 

cabinet in Washington and the junto 
in Richmond, controlled to a great ex- 
tent the politics of the nation. Their 
reign was from 1824 to 1837. The 
A7-gus was their organ. 

Religious Societies. — Nearly every 
church in the city has connected with 
it one or more societies for social and 
religious purposes combined. They 
are known as Young People's associa- 
tions, sodalities, guilds, etc. Then 
there is the Bible and Common Prayer 
Book Society, founded in 181 1, of 
which Bishop Doane is pres; the 
Methodist Sunday School Union, 
Henry Kelly, pres.; the County Sun- 
day School Association, S. B. Gris- 
wold, pres.; the Baptist Social Union, 
etc., etc. Also several flourishing mis- 
sionary societies, largely managed by 
women. (See Bible Society.) 

Rifle Association, Third Divi- 
sion. — Organized in 1876; chartered 
under the laws of the state. A range 
for the use of the members and the 
National Guard of the division district 
was estabhshed at Grand View Park, 
Rensselaer county, in 1877. June 24, 
1880, the range was removed to Rens- 
selaerwyck, on the Forbes estate, near 
Bath-on-the-Hudson. The range has 
become noted throughout the country 
for the splendid records made there. 
Monthly matches are shot on the 
range, under the direction of the asso- 
ciation. The principal events of the 
year take place during the annual fall 
meetings, when the division prize is 
shot for by teams representing all the 
organizations in the district. At pres- 
ent only second and third class targets 
are used upon the range. 

Rogues' Gallery. — A collection of 
curiosities and relics pertaining to the 
history of crime in this vicinity, includ- 
ing a large number of photographs of 
criminals and dangerous characters, in 



a room adjoining the detectives' bureau 
in the City Building. 

Rowing.-(See Out-Door Sports.) 

Rural Cemetery. — This beautiful 
resting-place of the dead is situated in 
the town of Watervliet, about four 
miles north of Albany, and is reached 
by the West Troy horse cars (the 
Broadway line), but more directly by 
the belt line leaving the N. Y. Central 
depot; fare, 10 cents; trains every 
hour. Visitors are admitted on foot at 
all hours between sunrise and sunset, 
except Sundays and holidays. Special 
tickets obtained at the office near the 
gate or of a trustee, will admit vehicles 
or persons on horse-back. Lot own- 
ers are given tickets which admit a 
vehicle on Sundays and holidays. 
Smoking, pic-nicing, dogs, and the 
plucking of flowers or breaking any 
tree or shrub, are strictly prohibited. 

History. — This cemetery had its 
origin in a sermon preached by Rev, 
B. T. Welch, D. D., in the Pearl street 
Baptist church, in December, 1840. 
This sermon he repeated by request, 
and as a result a public meeting was 
held in the Exchange building Dec. 
31, when it was resolved that a ceme- 
tery be established and a committee of 
thirteen appointed to carry the plan 
into effect. An association was incor- 
porated April 20, 1 84 1, consisting of 
Rev. Dr. B. T. Welch, Stephen Van 
Rensselaer, John A. Dix, John Q. Wil- 
son, James Horner, Anthony M. Strong, 
Peter Gansevoort, Thomas W. Olcott, 
Ezra P. Prentice, John Wendell, Ellis 
Baker, Ira Harris, Archibald Mclntyre. 
Of these, the original trustees, only 
Mr. Strong survives. 

The grounds were consecrated Oct. 
7, 1844. A procession, including the 
firemen and three bands of music, was 
formed in North Pearl street and es- 
corted to the ground bv the military. 
The services consisted of singing origi- 



137 



RUR 



nd hymns by a choir of several hun- 
dred voices led by R. Packard, religious 
exercises by the clergy, a poem by 
Alfred B. Street, and an address bv 
Hon. D. D. Barnard. These services 
occurred at the place now occupied by 
" Consecration Lake," in the center 
of which is a beautiful fountain. 
John Hillhouse, whose remains now 
lie in the Hillhouse family plat, was 
the first engineer and surveyor of 
the cemetery. After it was laid out 
by Maj. D. B. Douglass, upon his re- 
tirement. Burton A. Thomas, father of 
the present Superintendent, was ap- 
pointed engineer, and faithfully filled 
the position for over thirty-two years. 
The first president of the association 
was B. T. Welch; first sec. and treas., 
A.M. Strong; committee to locate and 
improve the grounds, B. T. Welch, 
Thomas W. Olcott. The present offi- 
cers are: President, Erastus Corning; 
sec. and treas., Dudley Olcott; trustees, 
Erastus Corning, John F. Rathbone, 
Isaac W. Vosburgh, Erastus D. Palmer. 
Abraham Van Vechten, James B. Jer- 
main, Charles B. Lansing, Robert 
Lenox Banks, Rufus W. Peckham, 
Dudley Olcott, Abraham Lansing, 
John Boyd Thacher, Grange Sard, 
supt. and surveyor, Jeffrey P. Thomas. 

The first interment was made in 
May, 1845. The grounds originally 
contained only 100 acres. They have 
been increased at various times (re- 
cently by a purchase of 48 acres on the 
north), till the present area is 287^ 
acres, traversed by 22 miles of drive- 
way. The total number of lots is 
5,509. Total number of interments to 
January i, 1884, 28,061, and these are 
being added to at an average rate of 
850 yearly. Single graves, $S, for 
persons under ten years of age, and 
$10 for others, including interment. 
Lots range from $25 to $256, or $1 
per foot. 

Description. 

The visitor who takes the Broadway 
10 



horse-cars, will find himself left at the 
entrance gate on the Troy road, from 
which a noble tree-lined avenue nearly 
half a mile long, leads to the cemetery. 
In summer, a conveyance runs at in- 
tervals, taking passengers to the office 
for five cents, and through the grounds 
for 10 cents more. The steam-cars 
stop close to the cemetery proper. 
A favorite way for carriages is the 
sonthern entrance, approached by Lin- 
den avenue from the Van Rensselaer 
boulevard. 

The Rural cemetery is well named. 
It is an expanse of hill and dale, forest 
and stream, bubbling fountains, sylvan 
dells, rocky ravines, sparkling rivulets, 
and peaceful sheets of water. There 
is no cemetery that possesses so many 
natural advantages as does the Rural. 
One or two days' wandering among its 
quiet scenes would still leave many a 
nook unvisited, many a path untrod. 
The grounds are laid out in an intri- 
cate labyrinth of walks and drives, but 
nature has divided the area into what 
are called the South, Middle and 
North ridges, running east and west, 
and separated by two streams of never- 
failing water. 

The South Ridge is the choicest 
section, and visitors who have not time 
to see the whole should select it in 
preference to the others. Taking the 
avenue Mount Way, which is at your 
left, as you leave the office, is seen at 
the right the most ponderous monument 
upon the grounds : a massive shaft 
ornamented with a medallion head, the 
memorial of Joel Rathbone. 

Bending northerly, the visitor sees a 
low monument to Thomas Hillhouse, 
who formerly owned the South ridge. 
This was the first granite structure in 
the cemetery. 

The memorial of Jared L. Rathbone 
is designed as the counterpart of the 
tomb of Scipio. Passing from Mount 
Way, northeasterly, into the Tour, is 
seen on Mount Olivet, a cottage monu- 



RUR 



138 



ment of Italian marble, with a medal- 
lion head, by Palmer, representing 
Lewis Benedict, the elder. Near by is 
a granite sarcophagus to the memory 
of the patriot soldier. Gen. Lewis Bene- 
dict, killed at Pleasant Hill. On Mount 
Olivet, also, is the tomb of the Van 
Benthuysens. When the cemetery was 
first laid out, the choice of lots was 
sold at auction, and the first choice was 
bid off by Mr. Obadiah R. Van Ben- 
thuysen, the first man to success- 
fully attach steam power to the print- 
ing press of America. The last time 
he went out of the house alive was to 
avail himself of the privilege he had 
purchased, and he selected this spot. 
On the Pohlman lot, beneath a Latin 
cross, lies the Rev. Dr. Pohlman, and 
near him, under a soldier's rustic me- 
morial, Lieut. Wm. H. Pohlman, 
wounded to death at Gettysburgh. 
Close to the line of St. Agnes Ceme- 
tery, in Forest ave., is the granite 
monument to Lyman Root, the largest 
single stone upon the ground, weighing 
about twenty tons. It is set exactly 
according to the cardinal points of the 
compass; the curiosity is that this was 
purely accidental. 

Turning southward, the lots are many 
of them circular. Still further south- 
ward, on Prospect hill, is an elaborate 
memorial to Jas. A. Wilson, one of the 
most costly on the grounds; a niche in 
front shelters a figure of Faith. Still 
further to the south is the Corning plat, 
the largest in the cemetery, A monu- 
mental cross to Gertrude Tibbitts Corn- 
ing; a large bronze cruciform sarco- 
phagus to Erastus Corning, and other 
elegant memorials attract attention. 
This is a most commanding position, 
and the view of river, mountain and 
distant city is indeed charming. Near 
the Corning plat is a Roman column 
erected to the memory of Gen, Philip 
Schuyler, the Revolutionary hero, who 
sleeps beneath it. The lot was given 
by the trustees of the cemetery, and 



the monument erected by Mrs. W. Starr 
Miller, a grand-daughter of the illus- 
trious deceased. Near by, also, is the 
King monument, well worth noticing, 
and bringing to mind the greater me- 
morial of this public-spirited citizen, 
the King fountain, to be erected in 
Washington Park (which see.) 

The lot of Robert Lenox Banks, 
west of the Corning plat, contains 
" The Angel at the Sepulchre," by 
Erastus D. Palmer. More strangers 
are drawn to the Rural to see this one 
work of art, than by all the other 
attractions combined. The face and 
form are of angelic beauty, although 
there is in both enough of the human 
to attract and hold our sympathy. 
Seated upon the rock which he has 
rolled back from the sepulchre, his 
countenance like lightning, his raiment 
white as snow, it is, alter all, less an 
angel than a glorified human being, 
gifted with eternal youth and God-like 
strength — a face radiant with fulfilled 
hope and the assurance of knowledge 
impossible this side the veil. It is, in- 
deed, a personification of the great 
truth of the resurrection, implied in 
the words, " Why seek ye the living 
among the dead? " While the cost of 
this memorial (said to be about $20,- 
000) has been exceeded in some in- 
stances, nothing approaching it in sen- 
timent or execution is to be found in 
any cemetery in the country. At the 
east of the Corning lot we notice the 
finely proportioned monument on the 
plat of Henry Russell, and near by 
the monuments of Nathan D. Wendell, 
D. W. ^Vemple, Samuel Schuyler, 
Capt. F. W. Vosburgh, Mrs. Joanna B. 
Towner and Edward Douglass. 

At the west, a short distance below, 
is a pear-shaped bit of silver, known 
as Cypress Water, in which is a minia- 
ture island. On the way down the 
slope is the Brumaghim lot, on which, 
besides the principal headstone, is a 
marble tree-trunk entwined with ivy. 



139 



RUR 



upon which perches a dove. Near by, 
also, is a soldier's monument, erected 
to Maj. George S. Dawson. Around 
the lake are the beautiful monuments 
of P. V. Fort, Oscar L. Hascy, E. D. 
Brainard, Dr. R. Jewett, Walter R. 
Bush, the late Michael McGarvey, and 
Mrs. Helena Hinckel. A beautiful 
granite cross is on the lot of Mather 
and Gibbons; also the Godfrey monu- 
ment, which is surmounted by a group 
called " Consolation," or religion con- 
soling sorrow; and a short distance to 
the west the massive sarcophagus of 
Daniel Manning, and on the opposite 
corner the large family plat of Weed 
and Barnes, in which repose the re- 
mains of the late Thurlow Weed, 
whose wife and children preceded him. 
From this point, also, may be seen the 
handsome monument of W, H. Pitkin, 
and opposite, one of Thomas V. Wol- 
cott, and near by the handsome obelisk 
of A. F. Fisher. At the right, in Ever- 
green Wood, Gen. Rice, the hero of 
twenty battles, the last of which proved 
fatal, is buried. Proceeding on the 
Tour, past Roseleaf and Spruce aves., 
Wooster's noble figure of Hope comes 
in sight, standing upon an octagonal 
pedestal, wrought in emblematic vines 
and flowers. 

Highland water is reached by Lawn 
crossway, and is a pretty little sheet, 
once alive with gold fish. On the right 
of Lawn avenue is the tomb of four 
generations of the Van Rensselaers. 
Through Greenwood ave. to Roseland 
way and we come to a much admired 
memorial of Robinson and Howe, sur- 
mounted by a statue of Memory, and 
back of this " Harry " Meech, of the 
old Albany Museum, is buried. Near 
by is the massive monument of the late 
Judge Ira Harris; also the Wallace 
monument, both well worth noting. 
A walk through the ravine and a visit 
to Consecration lake are next in order. 

Middle Ridge. — Leaving Conse- 
cration lake, and going west by Ravine 



sideway, facing Ravine bridge, on the 
right, is the only polished shaft of 
native granite on the ground. It is 
seen at fine advantage, and com- 
memorates the Orr family. Near by is a 
lot of another branch of the Van Rens- 
selaers, and here Gen. Solomon Van 
Rensselaer is buried. He fought under 
" Mad Anthony " at Miami, and re- 
ceived what was thought to be a mortal 
wound in the langs, but lived to be 
riddled with balls at Queenstown, and 
finally died at 78. Passing west and 
curving to the north, on the left of 
Western ave., stand two brown stone 
monuments, one of which was erected 
by the citizens of Albany to com- 
memorate the gallantry of Lewis N. 
Mo-rris, brevet-major, U. S. A., who fell 
Sept 21, 1846, while leading an assault 
at Monterey. Turning westward, we 
come to Olcott's monument, represent- 
ing a mother rising toward her children 
who have gone before. Opposite lies 
Edwin C. Delavan, the famous tem- 
perance reformer, who died in 1870. 
His name is perpetuated in Albany by 
the Delavan House, which he built. 
In the same section, is the lot and 
monument (containing a bronze medal- 
lion and head, modelled by Palmer) of 
the great financier, Thomas W. Olcott, 
who for 31 years was president of the 
cemetery association. For nearly sixty- 
three years Mr. O. was in the Mechan- 
ics' and Farmers' Bank, entering as 
a junior clerk, and becoming its presi- 
dent. Further along, on Western ave., 
is the grave of the famous surgeon, 
Dr. Alden March. Down the ravine 
at the right sleeps Indian lake, the 
largest sheet of water on the grounds. 
At the left is Tawasentha lake, and on 
the other side rises the massive granite 
monument to John Tayler Cooper. 
At the western extremity of the lake, 
on Hemlock ave., sleeps John C. Spen- 
cer, the illustrious lawyer. Still further, 
and on the left, the sarcophagus of 
Quincy granite, supporting a large an- 



RUR 



140 



chor in relief commemorates. Captain 
Robert Townsend, who died in China 
in 1866, while in command of the U. S. 
steamer Wachusett. Facing the lake 
is the tomb of M. N, Mead, erected in 
1880. Opposite may be seen the state- 
ly memorial sarcophagus erected on 
the family plot of William Apple- 
ton, A few rods west of this point 
brings one to the church grounds, where 
are interred the dead which were taken 
from the old Albany burying grounds, 
and re-buried here. The old grave- 
stones and their curious inscriptions, 
afford an interesting study to the an- 
tiquarian. Turning eastward, and 
retraversing Western ave. to section 
55, we find the grave of Gen. Peter 
Ganesvoort, the hero of Fort Stan- 
wix; also, those of his son and grand- 
son. Crossing the Tour, and still 
keeping on Western ave., we pass 
the grave of the late Chancellor of the 
University, John V. L. Pruyn, and 
come to the sarcophagus of Egbert 
Egberts, who was foremost in devol- 
oping the steam knitting industry at 
Cohoes. Here a number of the once 
prominent men of West Troy lie 
buried. Near the Tour, in section 62, 
is the grave of the statesman, William 
L. Marcy, marked by an unpretending 
granite monument. Mr. Marcy's 
father-in-law, Benjamin Knower, for- 
merly owned the land now forming 
the central division, and the very spot 
where Marcy is buried was a favorite 
resort with him. His funeral was one 
of the most impressive ever seen in 
Albany. Mr. Knower was one of the 
most prominent business men in the 
city in 1825, and was for many years 
president of the Mechanics' and Far- 
mers' Bank. In Crescent way (and 
we are not far from the eastern 
boundary of the cemetery) is a stately 
free-stone, sacred to the memory of 
Chas. E. Dudley, and of his widow, 
Mrs. Blandina Dudley, whose greater 
monument is the observatory which 



bears the name. Near by is a sym- 
metrical and highly polished Quincy 
granite cross to the memory of the late 
Townsend Fondey. Beyond the turn, 
and opposite the Dudley lot, is the tes- 
timonial to John Van Buren — " Prince 
John " — the son of the President, 
who died at sea, Oct. 13, 1866. Turn- 
ing northward is seen the hillside 
tomb of the Burdens, one of the most 
elaoorate sepulchres on the grounds. 
Its sculptured dogs attract much atten- 
tion. Its owner erected upon his 
estate on the other side of the river, 
an observatory, in which, when in a 
contemplative mood, he could sit and 
with a glass view his final resting place. 
The monument of Ozias Hall, a com- 
bination of brown-stone and marble, is 
in singular taste. A few steps east- 
ward lead to the main Tour. 

North Ridge.— Moving northward 
along the Tour, the Gothic chapel of 
John F. Winslow and the Winslow 
family will be easily identified. It is 
much the most costly of any structure 
on the ground. It is built of granite 
and other materials. Following the 
Tour, we come, on Landscape hill, to 
the first monument erected in the 
cemetery. It is to the memory of 
David Strain. Ascending to Arbor 
hill, we find the soldiers' burial ground, 
in which nearly 150 victims of the war 
lie buried. The scenes yearly enacted 
here on Decoration Day, under the 
auspices of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, are most impressive. Near 
by the soldiers' lot are the Hallenbake 
(properly Halenbeck) lots and monu- 
ment, where repose the dead who 
were once buried in the family bury- 
ing ground, southwest cor. Hamilton 
and South Pearl sts. This property 
was sold for taxes, and then re- sold 
and a portion of the proceeds devoted 
to the purchase of this lot and monu- 
ment, the transfer being completed in 
i860. 

A little lake some ways to the west, 



[41 



SAF— SHA 



is called Arbor water. In the north- 
west portion of the cemetery are the 
public lots, in each of which there is 
only *' room for one." A portion of 
this ground is reserved for the inmates 
of the Home for the Friendless. 

On the way out, the receiving vaults 
are noticed. The tirst one was erected 
in 1858, the last one in 1883. They 
are used for the reception of bodies in 
winter, when the ground will not read- 
ily permit of their interment. The 
cascades occupy what was once the 
site of Orient lake, and are a great im- 
provement to the scenery. Choice 
shrubbery and trailing vines have been 
planted among the rocks, and a trio of 
fountains sends up a beautiful spray. 
The lots are cared for by the season, at 
from $2 to $10, and upwards, according 
to size. The trustees also receive con- 
tributions, by bequest or otherwise, as 
a perpetual fund, the interest of which 
goes towards keeping lots of the con- 
tributors in good condition. The num- 
ber of lots thus permanently provided 
for is 300. The Lodge, of which a 
picture is given, was erected in 1882. 
A chapel will be erected in 1884. 

Safe Deposit and Storage Com- 
pany, Albany. — Incorporated May, 
1883. Fire and burglar proof vaults 
in the basement of the Albany Savings 
bank, cor. State and Chapel sts. Here at 
trifling expense, may be stored bonds, 
wills, coin, diamonds, plate,etc., in abso- 
lute safety, for a day, year, or a life-time. 
All that the ingenuity of man has de- 
vised against fire and thieves, is made 
use of; safes and vaults, into which 
fire cannot penetrate; burglar alarms, 
that set bells ringing in the police sta- 
tion, in the district telegraph office and 
elsewhere; time locks that open only 
at certain hours. So perfect is the sys- 
tem that even the treachery of employ- 
ees is set at defiance, and the storer 
of valuables rests content in the assur- 
ance that his or her treasures are in 



perfect safety. Those who leave their 
homes in summer find this a comfort 
worth a hundred times its cost. Furs 
and valuable clothing are also prepared 
for storage and insured against fire and 
moth. The public are invited to visit 
the premises. Edgar Cotrell, of the 
well-known hat and fur firm of Cotrell 
& Leonard, is the president of this 
institution, and George H. Treadwell, 
of Messrs. Treadwell & Co., the sec. 

"Sand Plain Lots."— In 1858 a 
very elaborate map was published of 
the property lying ten miles west of 
the City Hall, and yet technically, by 
the original charter, within the city 
limits. These city lots, 860 in number, 
although utterly worthless, looked well 
on paper, and were sold and re-sold 
by parties living at a distance, at as- 
tounding prices. Quite frequently the 
purchasers would come to look at their 
acquisitions, expecting to find them in 
the midst of the city. Their disap- 
pointment on realizing the truth was 
often hard to bear. The swindle was 
repeatedly exposed in the newspapers, 
but the sand plain lots are still in market. 

Schools. — See Albany Academy, 
Female Academy, St, Agnes School, 
Public Instruction. 

Secret Societies.— The princfpal of 
these. Free Masons, Odd Fellows, and 
Grand Army, are spoken of under 
their respective heads. There are 
also several lodges of the Knights of 
Pythias, Ancient Order of United 
Workmen, United Order of Foresters, 
Temperance organizations, etc., in the 
city. 

Sexes, Distribution of. — In Albany 
county, according to the census of 1880, 
the number of males was 74,701 ; num- 
ber of females, 80,189. 

Shakers. — Eight miles from the foot 



SHA 142 

of State St., and at the terminus of the forms of their worship : processional 

Shaker road, which branches from marching, dancing, etc., accompanied 

Broadway opposite the Van Rensselaer with singing by the whole body of 

mansion, is the original Shaker settle- worshippers. An address upon their 

ment in America where Mother Ann peculiar tenets is always given, the 

Lee, the founder of the sect, lies whole making their church a very 

buried. She emigrated from Manches- interesting resort during the season, 

ter, England, to the United States, in They publish a paper monthly — The 

1774, and settled on this spot, where Manifesto — which contains essays and 

she died in 1784. The drive from contributions, mostly from their own 

Albany, whether by the Shaker road people, illustrating their religious 

or by the way of West Albany, is a views; and each number contains a 

favorite one, and many take it. The piece of their unique, original music, 

settlement numbers less than 300 sin- Their post-office in the village is 

cere individuals who, in nearly every- " Shakers, N. Y." 

thing, differ with the teachings of other While open at all times to entertain 

churches; even their amusements and and interest candid inquirers after their 

recreations are almost wholly of a re- manner of life ; and while making 

ligious nature. Their principles in- welcome those who desire to visit their 

elude celibacy as best for those who homes and domains, the Shakers wish 

are able and willing to live it, commu- it to be distinctly understood that they 

nity of property, non-resistance, peace are not a public institution, but are 

of households and of nations, and en- privileged to the rights of their quiet, 

tire separatiou of their church from personal homes and estates; and any 

political or State connections. They infringement upon these by those who 

are thrifty farmers, gardeners and me- fail to consider that they have neither 

chanics; known as the best of neigh- hotels nor servants, is more than 

bors, and of very hospitable disposi- frowned upon. Any hospitality, be- 

tions. They own several thousand yond the freedom to visit their grounds, 

acres of fine land, and while much of gardens, enclosures, etc., must be by 

it is cultivated in an unequalled man- special invitation. 

ner, yet the tourist finds, just before Three-fourths of a mile east of the 
entering the village, the most beautiful village Hills' " Shaker Hotel " is loca- 
woods and heavily timbered plot in ted; and visitors to the settlement find 
the county of Albany. They are the it a clean and elaborately furnished 
originators of the far-famed " Shaker house, and its genial proprietor, Mr. 
Garden Seeds," and " Shaker Brooms," John A. Hills, one of the most honor- 
in which they still take pride. Their able, hospitable and popular of indi- 
live stock has been a noteworthy fea- . viduals, with " always welcome " on his 
ture in years past, and their fruits and countenance. 

flocks have attracted much attention. The Shakers are divided into four 

They are currently believed to be very villages, called the Church, North, 

wealthy; but their riches consist almost West and South families. They rely 

entirely in real estate at home and in almost wholly upon the outside world 

other counties and States. for converts to their system of life, 

On . Sundays, during the M'arm excepting that they have commonly 

weather, their church is open to the adopted a few orphan children, who, 

pubUc, and many citizens and stran- at mature age, may of choice become 

gers avail themselves of the beautiful members or not. The Shakers, at 

drives thither to witness the pecuUar present, are decUning in numbers, 



143 



SHA— STA 



which they attribute to the general 
coldness of religious feeling, claim- 
ing, that from genuine revivals, they 
" gather in" their share. 

Shaw, The Tailor.— The name of 
Chester C. Shaw is familiar all over 
Albany and vicinity because of the 
thoroughness with which he has adver- 
tised his business of tailoring, which 
has been carried on for i8 years, in 
one spot, except that his establishment 
has increased in size and spreads over 
far more ground than once it did. It 
is on Washington avenue (No. 41), 
directly opposite the capitol, and is 
always noticeable for the fine display 
of tailoring goods in the large, hand- 
some windows. Mr. Shaw's success is 
due to the fact, first, that he advertises; 
second, that he makes no promise to 
the public that he does not keep. He 
has special advantagee for doing good 
work at low prices, and his patrons in- 
clude those who find it necessary to 
economise as well as those who only 
care to have their clothes well and 
fashionably made. Mr. Shaw's suc- 
cess in business is such as any man 
may well be proud of. 

Sidewalks belong to the public. 
Any merchant placing goods at a 
greater distance than three feet from 
his building, or more than four feet 
above the pavement, is liable to a fine 
of $3, provided the articles are not in 
the course of transportation in or out 
of the building. 

Signal Service. — The United States 
Signal Service has its office at 44 State 
street, room 9, and is in charge of J. 
O. Barnes, who takes observations at 
7 A. M., 3 and II P. M., and forwards 
the report to Washington. Local ob- 
servations are taken at ii A. M. and 
7 P. M. He also prints and issues the 
Farmers' bulletin (Weather Indica- 
tions), which is mailed to about 380 



postmasters in this vicinity and to 30 
business firms and other persons in 
the city. Reports are received from 
about 56 stations, and these are fur- 
nished to the newspapers for publica- 
tion and posted up in various public 
places about the city. The office is 
open during the usual office hours, and 
any information as to reports and the 
work of the service is given to all who 
may desire it. 

Slaughter Houses, — The public 
slaughter-house is situated on Brevator 
St., nearly three miles west of the City 
Hall. Slaughtering is prohibited (ex- 
cept by consent of the Common Coun- 
cil) within the limits of 160 rods west 
of Allen St. on the west; Warren St., 
Delaware ave.. Second ave and Ganse- 
voort St. on the south; the city line 
on the east; and North Ferrv, Van 
Woert sts., Lexington and Livingston 
aves. on the north. The ordinance, 
however, is not strictly observed, and 
many of the butchers have their 
own slaughter-houses. The question 
whether the power given the city 
government by the Legislature to regu- 
late slaughter-houses, included the 
power to prohibit them has been 
raised, and decided in the affirmative 
by the Court of Appeals. Violation of 
the law is punishable by a fine of 
5 1 00. 

Spires. — Following is said to be the 
height of the tallest church spires in 
this city: St. Patrick's, 170 feet; Con-^ 
gregational, 195; St. Paul's Evangeli- 
cal Lutheran, 176; Trinity Methodist, 
173; Fourth Presbyterian, 186; State 
State Presbyterian, 166-3; Onv Lady 
of Angels, 120; St. Peter's, 180; 
Cathedral, 210; Holy Cross, 145. 

Stadt Huis, The, was on the cor- 
ner of Broadway and Hudson sts., now 
occupied by the Commercial building. 
Seven men, condemned to die, were 



STA 



144 



once incarcerated there. They barri- 
caded the door, declared that they had 
laid a train of powder to blow them- 
selves up and all around. A crowd 
had collected, and there was great 
excitement. Some one thought of the 
fire engine, which was brought, and 
the place thoroughly drenched, powder 
and all. Then a merchant, named 
McDole, took a fclub, and a hole being 
made through the ceiling, he de- 
scended, and laid around him till they 
were vanquished. Then they were 
dressed in white, and marched up 
State St. to Elk, where they were 
hanged. 

Stages run to Berne, New Scotland, 
and intermediate places, daily, at 2 P. 
M.; to Clarkesville, Westerlo, Rens- 
selaerville and intermediate places, via 
Bethlehem Centre, daily, at 2.30 p. M.; 
and to Guilderland Centre every after- 
noon at.3 o'clock, from Avenue House, 
74 Washington ave.; to Newtonville, 
daily, from Broadway, cor. State St.; 
to Nassau and East Schodack, daily, at 
2.45 P. M., from Haswell House, 56 
Madison ave. 

St. Agnes Cemetery. — Devoted to 
the interment of the dead belonging to 
the Catholic church; adjoins the Rural 
Cemetery (which see) on the south. 
The association known as " St. Agnes 
Cemetery " was incorporated by act of 
the Legislature passed May 9, 1867, 
the incorporators therein named being 
Rt. Rev. John J. Conroy, Rev. Edgar 
P. Wadhams, Peter Cagger, John Tra- 
cey, William S. Preston, James Hall, 
William Cassidy. Thomas Mattimore, 
John Stuart, Joseph Clinton, Thomas 
Kearney, Robert Higgins, John Mc- 
Ardle,John Mullen and Henry Lueke. 
The grounds were formerly the prop- 
erty of Mr. Joseph D. Badgley, from 
whom they were purchased by Peter 
Cagger and conveyed to St, Agnes 
Cemetery in 1867. The first meeting 



of the organization was held May 10, 
1867. Peter Cagger was elected presi- 
dent May 14th, and on the same day 
Peter Hogan, civil engineer, of Albany, 
was selected to make a topographical 
survey of the grounds. 

The cemetery was consecrated May 
19, 1867, in the presence of an enor- 
mous crowd. The cars of the Water- 
vliet railroad were unequal to the ac- 
commodation of intending visitors. 
Conveyances of every available kind 
were brought into reouisition both from 
Albany and Troy, and vast numbers 
walked to the grounds. In front of 
the mansion then standing upon the 
brow of the hill a platform had been 
erected, and upon this were Rt. Rev. 
Bishop Conroy, Rev. Fathers Wad- 
hams, Ludden, Bayard, Noethen, 
Burke, Smith, Taney, and a number of 
acolytes, the trustees occupying the 
rear. After the prayers prescribed in 
the Catholic ritual for occasions of the 
kind, a procession headed by Rev. 
Father Wadhams, and consisting of 
priests and their attendants, together 
with the different Young Men's Catho- 
lic societies of the city, and followed 
by great numbers of the spectators 
present, moved round the grounds, the 
priests and acolytes chanting and re- 
sponding. The ceremonies were closed 
with the Pontifical benediction, and 
were throughout most interesting and 
impressive. 

A general plan of the cemetery, pre- 
pared by Messrs. WilHam H. Grant 
and Donald G. Mitchell, civil engi- 
neers, of New York city, was at once 
adopted, and the several plats having 
been surveyed and subdivided into lots 
by Mr. Peter Hogan, and a map made 
by him, the sale of lots was very rapid, 
and has so continued up to the pres- 
ent. Soon after the death of Mr. 
Cagger, in 1868, Mr. WilHam Cassidy 
became president, and so continued 
until his death, in 1873. A seal was 
adopted by the association in 1869, 



145 



STA 



showing the figure of St. Agnes, with success which attended the commence- 
the insignia of the saint and the legend ment of the new school, secured ground 



" St. Agnes Cemetery, 1867." 

Upon the death of Mr. Cassidy, 
Bishop Conroy became president, and 
upon his retirement Rt. Rev. Francis 
McNeirny consented to occupy the 
position. 



for a suitable building on Elk St., one 
of the most commanding and beautiful 
sites in the city. In March, 1871, an 
act was passed by the legislature 
creating a corporation by the name 
and style of " The Corning Foundation 



The present condition and appear- for Christian Work in the Diocese of 
ance of St. Agnes Cemetery may be Albany,^' with ample powers for " the 




ST. AGNES SCHOOL. 



regarded with just pride and satisfac- 
tion not only by lot owners but by citi- 
zens generally. The lots are kept in 
admirable order, and many of the 
monuments erected are very beautiful. 

St. Agnes School.— The school of 
St. Agnes was founded by the Right 
Rev. Wm. C. Doane, Bishop of Albany, 
in 1870. It was modeled upon St. 
Mary's Hall at Burlington, N. J., a 
school founded 38 years ago by his 
father. Bishop of New Jersey. The 
late Erastus Corning, in view of the 



establishment, maintenance and man- 
agement, in the city of Albany, of a 
school or schools and other education- 
al, religious and charitable works and 
institutions, with a church or chapel 
and other convenient buildings in con- 
nection therewith; the same to be" 
maintained and conducted in accord- 
ance with the doctrines, discipline and 
worship of the Protestant Episcopal 
Church in the said diocese of Albany." 
By the requirements of the charter the 
Bishop of the said diocese, for the time 
being, is made one of the trustees 



STA 



146 



and the president of the board. 
The corporation was organized, funds 
raised, plans for the new building com- 
pleted, and May 8, 1871, ground brok- 
en in the presence of the members of 
the school and its friends and helpers. 
The corner-stone was laid with appro- 
priate services June 19th, and con- 
tained a copper box, in which were a 
copy of the Book of Common Prayer 
and the Holy Bible, of the act of in- 
corporation and other documents con- 
nected with the school, and on its top 
was an engraved plate with the in- 
scription : 

In angular! lapide. 

S. AGNETIS SCHOL^, 

Albaniensis. 

+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti,-f- 

' Amen. ' 

Fundamenta ejus in montibus Sanctis, 

Filiae corum compositae, circumornata; ut 

similitude Templi, 
In XIII Calendas Quintiles, A. D. 1872. 

The building was formally opened 
on Halloween, 1872, At the thir- 
teenth anniversary in June, 1884, the 
records showed a list of 200 pupils in 
attendance during the year, and 22 
teachers and lecturers, while 218 grad- 
uates have gone out from the school. 
It now occupies an honored position 
as first among its equals, older or 
younger, of American church schools 
for girls. ^^Non nobis, Domine. Non 
nobis; sed Nomini tuo da gloriamT 

State Bank. -The New York State 
National Bank, at 69 State St., charter- 
ed in 1803, is the third oldest bank 
in the state, and while thousands of 
other moneyed institutions have chang-* 
ed front, locality, and everything else, 
the old State bank has for more than 
eighty years preserved and maintained 
not only its unsullied repute as a high- 
toned and honorable banking house, 
but still occupies the very home in 
which its well-earned reputation has 



been made. The building was begun 
in 1803 and completed' in May, 1804. 
May 2, 1880, it was damaged by fire to 
such an extent that it had to be entire- 
ly remodeled; and while the character 
and style of the building were retained, 
it was made into one of the most hand- 
some and convenient suites of banking 
apartments in the country, with fire 
and burglar proof vaults of the most 
approved construction. The first board 
of directors were John Tayler, Elkan- 
ah Watson, Peter Gansevoort, jr., John 
Robison, Gilbert Stewart, Thomas Til- 
lotson, John D. P. Douw, Thomas 
Mather, John R. Bleecker, Francis 
Bloodgood, Richard Lush, Abm. G. 
Lansing, Elisha Jenkins, of whom John 
Tayler was elected president, and con- 
tinued as such till his death, March 21. 
1829. He was succeeded by Francis 
Bloodgood (the last survivor of the 
original board of directors), who died 
March 5, 1840, when Mr. Rufus H. 
King was unanimously elected to suc- 
ceed him. When Mr. King died, July 
9, 1867, he had been connected with 
the institution as director, vice-presi- 
dent or president for 49 years. Mr. 
King was succeeded by his son-in-law, 
Franklin Townsend, and he failing in 
health, by the present president, Mr. 
J. Howard King, son of Rufus H., 
July 21, 1879. The first cashier was 
John W. Yates, who was succeeded by 
his son, Richard Yates. The succeed- 
ing four were Aaron D. Patchin, Jo- 
siah B. Plumb, John H. Van Antwerp 
(now vice-president), and the present 
incumbent, D. W. Wemple. Present 
directors : J. H. Van Antwerp, Jere- 
miah Waterman, Charles B. Lansing, 
Frederick Townsend, Wm. M. Van 
Antwerp, Jas. H. Pratt, Marcus T, 
Hun, Henry K. McHarg, Samuel N. 
Bacon, Rufus K. Townsend. Capital 
$250,000; surplus and undivided prof- 
its over $225,000. Under its present 
management this ancient and honor- 
able institution fully maintains the 




^-•,JLGROVER CLEVELAND. 



147 



STA 



standing which it has long had among 
the soundest banks in the country. 

State Government. — Albany be- 
ing the capital of the State, most of the 
State officers have their residence and 
offices here. 

Governor. — Grover Cleveland 
(dem.), of Buffalo; term, Jan. I, 1883, 
to Jan. I, 1886; elected by a plurality 
of 192,854; salary, ^10,000 and house; 
residence, Eagle St., south of Elm. 
Office, Executive Chamber, Capitol. 
Private sec, Daniel S. Lamont; salary, 
$4,000. 

LiEUT.-GovERNOR.— David B. Hill 
(dem.), of Elmira; term of three years 
expires Jan. i, 1886; salary, $5 000. 
Office, third floor of Capitol. 

Secretary of State. — Joseph B. 
Carr (rep.), of Troy; term of two 
years expires Jan. i, 1886; salary, 
$5,000. Office, Capitol, second floor, 
north side. Deputy, Anson S. Wood; 
salary, $4,000. 

Comptroller. — Alfred C. Chapin 
(dem.), of Brooklyn; term of two 
years expires Jan. i, 1886; salary, 
$6,000. Office in State hall, tirst floor. 
Deputy, Thomas E. Benedict; salary, 
$4,000. 

Treasurer. — Robert A. Maxwell 
(dem.), of Batavia; term of two years 
expires Jan. i, 1886; salary, $5,000. 
Office, State hall, first floor. Deputy, 
Edgar K. Apgar; salary, $4,000. 

Attorney-General. — Dennis O'- 
Brien (dem.), of Watertown; term of 
two years expires Jan. i, 1886; salary, 
$5,000. Office, Capitol, second floor, 
south side. Deputies, Isaac H. May- 
nard, William A. Poste; salaries, 
$4,000 each. 

Engineer and Surveyor. — Elna- 
than Sweet (dem.), of Albany; term 
of office, two years; expires Jan. i, 
1886; salary, $5,000; office, second 
floor. State hall; deputy, Charles Hil- 
ton, salary, $4,000. 

Superintendent of Public Works. 



— James Shanahan (dem.), of Tribe's 
Hill; appointed by Governor and Sen- 
ate; term expires Jan. I, 1886; salary, 
$6,000. Office, Capitol, first floor, 
north side. 

Superintendent of Prisons. — 
Isaac V. Baker, Jr. (rep.), Comstock's; 
appointed by Governor and Senate; 
term of five years expires Feb. 16, 1887; 
salary, S6,ooo. Office, Capitol, first 
floor, south side. 

Superintendent of Banking. — 
Willis S. Paine (dem.), of New York; 
appointed by Governor and Senate; 
term, two years; expires April 13, 1886; 
salary, $5,000. Office, State Hall, sec- 
ond floor; deputy, Josiah Van Vran- 
ken; salary, $3,500. 

Superintendent of Insurance. — 
John A. McCall, Jr. (dem.), of Albany; 
appointed by Governor and Senate; 
term of three years expires April 23, 
1886; salary, $7,000. Office, Capitol, 
first floor, south ; deputy, Michael Shan- 
non; salary, $4,500. 

Superintendent of Public In- 
struction. — William B. Ruggles 
(dem.). Elected by Legislature for 
three years; term expires March 14, 
1886; salary, $5,000. Office, Capitol, 
first floor, south. Deputy, James E. 
Morrison; salary, $3,500. 

Canal Board. —Consists of the Lieu- 
tenant-Governor, Secretary of State, 
Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney-Gen- 
eral, State Engineer and Surveyor, 
Superintendent of Public Works. 

State Assessors. — Staley S. Wood, 
James L. Williams, John D. Ellis; sal- 
ary, $2,500 each; appointed April 18, 
1883, for three years. With the Com- 
missioners of the Land Office they con- 
stitute a State Board of Equalization. 

State Board of Charities. — Wm. 
P. Letchworth, pres. : John C. Dever- 
eux, vice-pres.; Chas. S. Hoyt, Albany, 
sec; Jas. O. Fanning, Albany, assist, 
sec. Office, State hall. 

Regents of the University. — The 
Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Sec- 



STA 



148 



retary of State, Superintendent of 
Public Instruction, ex-officios, George 
W. Clinton, Lorenzo Burrows, E. W. 
Leavenworth, J. Carson Brevoort, Geo. 
W. Curtis, Francis Kernan, John L. 
Lewis, Henry R. Pierson, Martin L 
Townsend, Anson J. Upson, William 
L. Bostwick, Chauncey M. Depew, 
Charles E. Fitch, Orris H. Warren, 
Leslie W. Russell, Whitelaw Reid, 
William H. Watson, Henry E. Turner, 
St. Clair McKelway. Officers of the 
Board: Henry R. Pierson, chancellor; 
Geo. W. Clinton, vice-chancellor; 
David Murray, sec; Daniel J. Pratt, 
assist, sec. 

Staff of Commander-in-Chief. — 
Adjutant-General, Major-Gen. John G. 
Farnsworth, Albany (salary, $3,000) ; 
Inspector-General, Brig.-Gen. PhiHp 
H. Briggs, Brooklyn ($6 per day for 
actual service) ; Chief of Ordnance, 
Brig.-Gen. Daniel D. Wylie, New 
York ($2,500) ; Engineer-in-Chief, 
Brig-Gen. George S. Field, Buffalo; 
Judge - Advocate - General, Brig.-Gen. 
Horatio C. King, Brooklyn; Surgeon- 
General, Brig.-Gen. Joseph D. Bryant, 
New York; Quartermaster-General, 
Brig.-Gen. Myndert D. Mercer, Water- 
loo; Paymaster-General, Brig.-Gen. 
G. Barrett Rich, Buffalo; Commissary- 
General of Subsistence, Brig.-Gen. 
Austin Lathrop, Corning; General In- 
spector of Rifle Practice, Brig.-Gen. 
Charles F. Robbins, New York ($1,- 
500); Military Secretary, Col. Daniel 
S. Lamont, Albany. Aids-de-camp, 
Cols. Charles H. Utley, Buffalo; Sam- 
uel J. Tilden, Jr., New Lebanon; 
Clarence H. Frost, Peekskill; Thomas 
C. Miles, New York; Robert Town- 
send, Oyster Bay; William R. Cassidy, 
Albany. 

Commissioners and Trustees. — 
The Board of Commissioners of the 
Canal Fund consists of the Lieutenant- 
Governor, Secretary of State, Comptrol- 
ler, Treasurer and Attorney-General, 

The Board of Commissioners of the 



Land Office consists of the same, and 
the State Engineer and Surveyor and 
Speaker of the Assembly. 

The Board of Trustees of Public 
Buildings consists of the Governor, 
Lieutenant-Governor and Speaker of 
the Assembly. Supt. of public build- 
ings, Chas. B. Andrews. 

State Survey. — William Dorshei- 
mer, New York, pres.; James T. Gardi- 
ner, director; Daniel J. Pratt, clerk. 

Civil Service Commissioners. — 
Augustus Schoonmaker, Henry A. 
Richmond, John Jay. Silas W. Burt, 
chief examiner. 

Adirondack Survey. — Verplanck 
Colvin, Albany, Supt. 

Commisioners of Claims. — Lyman 
H. Northup, George M. Beebe, Henry 
F. Allen; Edwin M. Holbrook, clerk. 

Railroad Commissioners. — John 
D. Kernan, chairman; John O'Don- 
nell, William E. Rogers; William C. 
Hudson, clerk. 

Commissioner of Statistics of 
Labor. — Charles F. Peck, appointed 
May 4, 1883. 

State Board of Health. — Edward 
M. Moore, Rochester, pres. ; Dr. Alfred 
L. Carroll, sec. 

State Hall, Eagle St., between Steu- 
ben and Pine, is built of white cut 
stone from the Sing Sing quarries, is 
138 by 88 feet, and is 65 leet high. 
The ceilings of the basement and of 
the two principal stories are groined 
arches, and all the rooms, excepting 
in the attic story, are fire-proof. The 
basement and attic are each 19 feet, 
and the two principal stories each 22 
feet high. It was finished in 1842, at 
a cost of $350,000. It contains the 
offices of the Comptroller, Treasurer, 
Bureau of Canal Affairs, State Engi- 
neer and Surveyor, Supt. Bank Depart- 
ment and State Board of Charities. 
Open to visitors during business hours. 
When vacated by removals to the 
Capitol, the building will be used for 



149 



STA 



the Museum 
(which see.) 



OF Natural History 



State Library. — The New York 
State Library was founded by act of. 
the Legislature, passed April 21, 181 8. 
The Governor, Lieut. -Governor, Chan- 



Legislature, however, needed for con- 
sultation works on political economy, 
and books on such other subjects that 
touched upon their legislative labor, 
and thus the field for collection was 
gradually enlarged. For thirty years 
the library continued under the con- 



cellor and Chief Justice of the Supreme" trol of the officers above mentioned as 




STATE HALL. 



Court for the time being, were consti- 
tuted a board of trustees, who. were 
directed to cause to be fitted up some 
proper room in the Capitol " for the 
purpose of keeping therein a publick 
library for the use of the government 
and the people of the State." The 
trustees at this period had mainly in 
view the collection of an extensive 
library of law books, and a great pro- 
portion of the appropriations were ex- 
pended for this department. The 



trustees (to whom in 1824 were added 
the Secretary of State, Attorney- 
General and Comptroller), and its 
magnitude and importance then made 
it necessary that a more permanent 
board of trustees should be intrusted 
with its management. Accordingly, 
on the 4th of May, 1844, the Legisla- 
ture enacted that the Regents of the 
University should be the trustees of 
this library. Upon assuming this trust 
they caused an inventory of the library 



STA 



SO 



to be taken, and its whole. arrangement 
was reconstructed. One result of the 
inventory was the discovery that 311 ' 
volumes were missing, — some of which, 
however, were recovered by advertis- 
ing. It was then determined to be 
important to secure for the State every 
historical work illustrating American 
history, and especially the history of 
New York. The growth of the library 
has been a steady one, depending on 
a moderate annual appropriation, 
which has been increased some years 
for the special purchase of large col- 
lections. Among such notably was the 
Warden collection in 1843, made by 
Mr. David B. Warden in Europe, 
numbering over 2,000 volumes relating 
to American history. In 1853 the 
Legislature authorized the purchase of 
the correspondence and other papers 
of George Clinton, the first Governor 
the State. These manuscripts have 
been bound in twenty-three folio vol- 
umes, and a calendar since added. A 
copious index to all names mentioned 
in these papers is now in preparation. 
Enough of other Clinton manuscripts 
have since been procured to till ten 
similar volumes. The papers found 
on the person of Major Andre, by his 
captors at Tarrytown, were among the 
Clmton manuscripts, and have been 
framed and put under glass. The 
papers of Sir William Johnson, cover- 
ing a period of the history of Central 
New York from 1738 to 1774, were 
also purchased and arranged and 
bound in twenty-two folio volumes. 

In 1854 the library was removed to 
a new building, west of the old Capitol, 
constructed by the direction of the 
legislature of 185 1. It was intended 
to be fire-proof, and was so considered 
before the great fires of Chicago and 
Boston. It was intended to accommo- 
date 100,000 volumes — it had, before 
the rtmoval to the new Capitol, packed 
and padded on the shelves over 125,- 
000 volumes, besides scores of volumes 



of atlases and thousands of duplicate 
books for exchange. The duplicate 
volumes are chiefly the reports of the 
several departments of the State gov- 
ernment and institutions, and books 
presented to the library from time to 
time by various persons. In order to 
make room for preparing the approach 
to the new Capitol on the east it was 
decided to take down the building. 
The library was removed during the 
months of September and October, 
1883, to the new Capitol, the law li- 
brary occupying the well-known golden 
corridor and the general library the 
adjoining room, formerly prepared for 
the Court of Appeals. This is inade- 
quate to afford shelf room for all the 
books, but nearly all are accessible to 
the public. Ample rooms are in pro- 
cess of preparation on the third floor 
of the west side of the Capitol. 

The library of to-day represents the 
best thought of the human mind and 
the record of human action for the last 
six thousand years. While every de- 
partment of letters is represented on 
the shelves, yet the library is by far the 
richest in works relating to American 
history. Hundreds of books have 
been printed in this country, in the 
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, 
of the editions of v/hich not twenty 
copies remain undestroyed Quiet, un- 
remitted watchfulness and care for the 
past thirty years have succeeded in 
gathering in most of these publications, 
so that few libraries on this continent 
are richer in early Americana. The 
library does not seek literary curiosities 
as such; but when a book is off'ered 
which is needed to complete the set of 
laws, or illustrate the history of the 
State, it is obtained, as when, in the 
spring of 1880, $1,600 was paid at 
auction for the first book of the Laws 
of the State, of which but two or three 
perfect copies are known to be in exis- 
tence. The library contains, in addi- 
tion to these rare or almost unique vol- 



151 

umes, many illustrated volumes of trav- 
els, of natural history, and oi ancient 
and modern art. Among these are 
Kingsborough's Mexican Antiquities, 
the text of which is mainly in the 
Spanish and Italian languages; the 
great work on Egypt, in 12 folio vol- 
umes, executed under orders of Napo- 
leon I; Audubon's Birds of America, 
in four volumes, elephant folio, which 
now bring- at auction $i,ooo; and 20 
volumes illustrating the humming birds 
of Central and South America. The 
leading journals of France and Eng- 
land are represented in almost com- 
plete files of the Moniteur and London 
Times. Sixty thousand pamphlets 
have been preserved, to illustrate every 
phase of human industry, eccentricity, 
passion, patriotism, stupidity or genius. 
The collection of American genealogies 
is perhaps unsurpassed by any other in 
the country. About 3,000 volumes of 
specifications and drawings of English 
patents are stored on the shelves, be- 
sides those of the United States, Can- 
. ada, France and Victoria. Hardly a 
library-day in the year passes that one 
or more readers do not ask to consult 
some of these patents volumes. The 
law library has but one equal in the 
extent and value of its collections in 
this country, and that is the Library of 
Congress at Washington. Every book 
and pamphlet in the Hbrary is cata- 
logued under the author's name, in 
alphabetical order, and in addition to 
this catalogue is a subject-index, in 
which, under subjects presented in al- 
phabetical order, are given the treatises, 
in book or pamplet form, upon that 
subject. 

In addition to the books, other arti- 
cles of value and interest have drifted 
in as to a safe place of deposit for the 
inspection of visitors. Among these 
are a sword and pistol and the survey- 
ing instruments of Washington; the 
swords presented to Gen. Worth by 
the United States, by New York State, 



STA— STE 

and by the city of Hudson, for brilliant 
services in the Mexican war; busts of 
some of the eminent statesmen of New 
York; portraits in oil of many of the 
Governors and Regents of the Univer- 
sity, and a numismatic collection of 
considerable value. It is a reference 
library, and only members of the legis- 
lature, heads of departments of the 
State government, and the trustees of 
the library have the privilege of taking 
books to their residences. There is 
hardly a field of human industry that is 
not represented in applicants for inform- 
ation to assist them in their several 
spheres of labor in office, workshop, or 
out-door occupations. 

The library is open daily from 9 a. m. 
to 5 p. M., except Sundays and holi- 
days, and from the 5th to the 20th of 
August; during sessions of the legisla- 
ture till 6 P. M., except Saturdays, when 
it closes at 5 p. M. Henry A. Homes, 
gen. librarian; Stephen B. Griswold, 
law librarian; George R. Howell, ass't 
librarian. 

State Street owes its great width to 
the fact that in the early history of the 
city most of the public buildings were 
in the middle of that street. It is a 
noble avenue, and when cleared of its 
Market (which see) will form a fitting 
approach to the Capitol. 

Steamboat Landing, foot of Madi- 
son avenue, was formerly called the 
Watering Place, as there teams and 
cattle had access to the river. The 
South Market which stood there was 
taken down in 1842, and the lot leased 
to Isaac Newton. 

Steamboats. — During the season of 
navigation, steamers leave foot of Ham- 
ilton street daily for Cedar Hill, Castle- 
ton, Coeymans, New Baltimore, Stuy- 
vesant, Coxsackie, Hudson, Catskill, 
Rondout, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, 
and intermediate landings. There is 



STM— STU 

also a line to New Baltimore twice 
daily. The Albany and Troy steamers 
run hourly from foot of Maiden lane. 
During the Saratoga season, there is a 
day line to New York. The People's 
line runs boats to and from New York 
every night except Sunday. 

St. Michael's Feast.— " The feast- 
day of St. Michael, the Archangel,' 
(Sept. 29) was designated in the Don- 
gan charter as the time when the alder- 
men should be elected and the cham- 
berlain appointed. The succeeding 
charters have perpetuated this anti- 
quated notion, and the present charter 
provides that the chamberlain and the 
receiver of taxes shall be biennially 
appointed by the common council on 
the nomination of the mayor, on the 
eve of the feast of St, Michael the 
Archangel. 

Storage. (See Auctions.) 

Stove Trade. — It is not known why 
it so happens that more stoves are 
made in and near Albany than on any 
other spot of the earth's surface of the 
same dimensions. Both the iron from 
which the stoves are made and the 
coal with which to make them come 
from a distance, although it is true that 
our moulding sand (of which there are 
untold quantities) is as good as can be 
obtained anywhere. Among the early 
iron founders in Albany who made a 
few stoves may be mentioned \Varner 
Daniels, Thomas Spencer & Co., Fran- 
cis Low, Corning & Norton, and Spen- 
cer Stafford & Co. Those who manu- 
factured later and more extensively 
were H. Nott & Co., Joel Rathbone & 
Co., WilUam V. Many, Gill Cooper & 
Co., Thomas & Potts, Pratt & Tread- 
well, O. G. De Graff & Co., Jacob H. 
Shear, Ransom & Rathbone, Tread- 
well & Perry, Vose & Co., McCoy & 
Clark, Quackenboss & Wasson, Learn- 
ed & Thacher, WilUam Cobb, Shear, 



'52 

Packard & Co. H. Nott & Co. (1832), 
manufactured the celebrated coal-burn- 
er invented by Dr. Nott, but soon re- 
moved to New York. Thomas & Potts 
(1835) were among the earliest to 
make stoves from the pig in Albany. 
Previous to this date most of the stoves 
sold were made direct from the ore in 
blast furnaces in N. J. and Penn. The 
plates were mounted in Albany. Wil- 
liam V. Many (1840) manufactured 
stoves for Joel Rathbone & Co., and was 
succeeded byTreadvvell& Perry in 1843. 
Previous to 1835 the leading stoves 
were the six and nine plate : Saddle 
Bag, Horse Block and Three Boiler. 
The Premium stove followed, and a 
few are sold in the south to this day. 
Soon after the Buck, the Hathaway 
and other revertible flues (the fire 
passing around the oven) were intro- 
duced and remain th^ leading con- 
struction for cooking stoves. Coal 
stoves were not made to any great ex- 
tent until 1845. There are eight stove 
manufactories in Albany, employing 
3,600 men, giving support to about ' 
18,000 persons. The annual produc- 
tion is estimated at 26,000 tons; the 
annual sales at $3,000,000. They go 
to nearly every state and territory in 
the Union and many to foreign coun- 
tries. 

Street Cleaning is done under five 
contracts, one for each police precinct, 
and the captains of police are author- 
ized to see that the work is properly 
performed. If it is not, they have the 
right to employ men and teams to re- 
move the dirt, and the expense is 
reported and charged against the con- 
tractors. 

Sturgeonville. -A derisive name 
applied to Albany, from the fact that 
many years ago sturgeon was bought 
and sold here in large quantities. 
Twenty-five years ago the trade here 
amounted to $20,000 annually, but it 



153 



STU— TAX 



has declined so that now a good 
specimen is quite a rarity. It is a 
curious fact, that in spite of this, stur- 
geon is known as Albany beef all over 
the United States. 

Stuttering and Stammering have 
baffled medical skill to such an extent 
that physicians for the past forty years 
have not attempted their treatment. 
Hence sufferers, whenever they have 
sought relief, have fallen into the 
hands of incompetent and unprincipled 
persons, whereby the very name of 
" stutter-doctor " has become the syn- 
onym of charlatanism and swindling. 
When it is considered that there are, 
perhaps, 200,000 speech-sufferers in 
this country alone, the need of quali- 
fied speech-physicians is evident. To 
the solution of this problem, Mr. Edgar 
S. Werner has devoted himself for 
years. From early childhood he was 
afflicted, at times becoming so bad that 
for weeks he was forced to communi- 
cate with others by writing, he being 
often taken for a deaf-mute. Mr. 
Werner has been treated by every 
American speech- specialist, and has 
visited every institution of this kind in 
Europe. Several years were spent ex- 
clusively in treatment. The outcome 
of this long, laborious and costly strug- 
gle is a method which its originator 
puts forth as the best in the world. It 
is based upon physiological principles, 
and in its workings includes the whole 
physical, mental and moral man. The 
entire organism is wrought upon. As 
far as practicable, every individual res- 
piratory and vocal muscle-group is 
trained separately, and then joined 
with the other groups involved in the 
vocal function; and all are drilled by 
special gymnastics to work harmoni- 
ously (co-ordinately, as medical men 
say). This combination of right mus- 
cular activity is, perhaps, the distin- 
guishing feature of the method, which 
is acknowledged by those competent to 
II 



judge, to be scientific and effectual. 
The results are most satisfactory. Af- 
flicted persons come from all parts of 
English-speaking North America to be 
treated. Some most remarkable cures 
have been effected. Success is guar- 
anteed when proper effort is made on 
the part of the pupil. Mr. Werner is 
also editor and proprietor of The Voice 
(monthly, $1 a year), now in its sixth 
year, the first and only journal in the 
world, making voice-culture and the 
cure of vocal defects a specialty. The 
Voice has thrown much light upon the 
use, culture, restoration and preserva- 
tion of the voice in song and in speech. 
Mr. Werner is prepared to treat stut- 
terers, stammerers, persons with 
squeaky or falsetto voice, weak or im- 
perfect articulation, etc., etc. The 
pupil is not pledged to keep secret the 
treatment; the principles of which 
are fully explained in a circular, sent 
upon application. Address Edgar S. 
Werner, 59 Lancaster street, Albany, 
N. Y. 

Swimming in the river near the 
shores or wharves, between 6 a. m. 
and 8 P. M., is forbidden by city ordi- 
nance. Still, if a man falls overboard, 
he better swim if he knows how, rather 
than break the law and go to the bot- 
tom. The fine is only $\. 

Tax Rate. — The following table 
shows the rate of taxation on a hundred 
dollars in the city of Albany from 1850 
to the present time : 

1850 $0 78}^ 

1851 I 00 

1832 I 10 

1853 I 16 

1854 I 24 

1855 I 46 

1856 I 47 

1857 I 40 

1858 I 58 

1859 I 38 

i860 I 27 

1861 I 61 

1862 I 80 

1863 2 00 



TEL I 

1864 3 72 

1865 3 62 

1866 •• 3 76 

1867 3 56 

1868 3 92 

1869 3 54 

1870 4 57 

1871 3 20 

1872 4 10 

1873 2 68 

1874 5 00 

1875 3 56 

1876 3 38 

1877 3 20 

1878 2 84 

1879 2 80 

1880 3 60 

1881 1 92 

1882 I 86 

1883 I 96 

The reduction during the last three 
years is because of the increased valua- 
tion, property having been since 1 881 
assessed at its full value. 

Valuation. — The last valuation of 
property in this city was as follows : 

Real estate $60,750,120 

Personal 6,480,735 

$67,230,855 

For State and county purposes, the 
valuation of real estate was equalized 
at $50,816,548. 

Telegraph. — Two telegraph lines 
do business in this city. In messages 
the " body " words of the message only 
are charged for, the date, address, and 
signature of messages being transmit- 
ted free. Figures must always be 
written out in words. Messages are 
delivered in the city limits without 
extra charge; and through the tele- 
phone, messengers can be summoned, 
who will also receive messages without 
extra charge. 

Western Union. — Central office, 
. cor. of State and Broadway; branches, 
Capitol, West Albany, Delavan House, 
Union depot, Lumber district. People's 
Line office, D. & H. C. R. R. general 
offices, foot of Maiden lane; in the 
winter, at the Kenmore Hotel. 



54 

Bankers and Merchants. — Cen- 
tral office, 444 Broadway; branch 
offices, at the Mansion House and 
Capitol. 

Telephone. — The telephone in this 
city is an outgrowth of the American 
District Telegraph Company, which 
was chartered in November, 1875, ^^^ 
began operations in February, 1876, by 
furnishing Messenger Service (which 
see). In March, 1878, the American 
District Telegraph made a contract 
with the Bell Telephone Company of 
Boston for the use of the latter's in- 
struments; and on May 22, 1878, es- 
tablished a telephone exchange in 
Albany. It was the third one in the 
United States, or in the world; the 
first being in New Haven, Ct., under 
the management of Mr. Coy, the origi- 
nator of the system; the second in 
Lowell, Mass. Prior to these a system 
of centering telephone wires in one 
office had been in operation at Boston, 
but communications were sent to ope- 
rators at the central office, who relayed 
them to their destination; whereas, at 
New Haven, the subscribers were put 
in actual communication with each 
other. The Albany Exchange began 
with about 100 subscribers, and the 
American District Company enjoyed a 
monopoly of the business until July, 
1879, when the Commercial Telephone 
Company began operations within the 
city. In November, 1880, the owners 
of the Commercial Company obtained 
control of the American District, and 
in January, 188 1, the two companies 
were consolidated under the name of 
the former. The Commercial Com- 
pany now have a Hst of about 1,200 
subscribers. The office of the chief of 
police is in telephonic communication 
with the different stations; the chief 
engineer of the fire department with 
steamer and truck houses. The total 
number of telephones in Albany, Troy 
and vicinity cannot be far from 3,500. 



155 



TEM— TIM 



Prices of telephone subscriptions 
range from $4 to $12 per month, ac- 
cording to distance of subscribers from 
central office, which is at 468 Broad- 
way. Branches at 68 Washington ave. 
and corner South Pearl and Hamilton 
streets. 

The Hudson River Telephone 
Company, with office also at 468 Broad- 
way, controls all the territory from New 
York city to Clinton county, as far east 
as the State Hne, and fifty miles west 
of the Hudson river. Communication 
is had with points between and includ- 
ing Croton Falls and Rutland, Vt., and 
Piitsfield, Mass., and Fort Plain. This 
circuit will soon be further extended, 
connections being made through- the 
Utica company as far as Buftalo and 
through the Central New York with 
points in Schoharie and Otsego coun- 
ties. Another line is being extended 
along the west shore of the Hudson to 
Jersey City. The tariff for out of town 
calls is from 10 to 25 cents. 

Temperature. — The temperature in 
Albany, as observed by the Signal Ser- 
vice for the past ten years, has an 
extreme range from 93 degs. above to 
18 degs. below zero, and an average 
yearly range from 92.5 degs. above to 
1 1.8 degs. below zero. The mean for 
the seasons is: Winter, 25.6 degs.; 
spring, 45.6 degs.; summer, 70.5 degs.; 
autumn, 51.2 degs.; average for the 
year, 48.2 degs. The mean winter 
isotherm passes near Oswego, N. Y., 
north of Detroit and Grand Haven, 
Mich., between Milwaukee and Chi- 
cago, south of Davenport, Iowa, north 
of Omaha, and near Denver; thence 
southwest to lat. 37; thence north- 
westerly to British Am'erica. The sum- 
mer isotherm describes nearly the 
same course, being somewhat farther 
south along the lakes and farther 
north from Milwaukee west to the 
mountains. 

Rainfall. — The average yearly 



rainfall (which includes melted snow), 
computed from ten years observation, 
is 36.97 inches, and is distributed 
throughout the year as follows : Win- 
ter, 8.07; spring, 8.69; summer, 10.95, 
and autumn, 9.26. 

Theatres. — (See Leland Opera 
House, Music Hall.) 

Time Service.— The city fire bells 
are struck morning and evening at 9 
o'clock in accordance with electric sig- 
nals received directly from the standard 
clock of the Dudley Observatory. 
Formerly jewellers and others also re- 
ceived electric time signals. In 1882 
the subject of accurate time for Albany 
received increased attention. There 
are now public clocks which are ac- 
cessible to all who wish to consult 
them for accurate time. One of these 
clocks is located in the western corri- 
dor of the Post-office; another is in 
the vestibule of the City Hall; and 
a third is found in the eastern entrance 
of City Building on South Pearl st. 
These clocks are electrically controlled 
from the standard clock of the Dudley 
Observatory in such a manner that 
their pendulums, which beat seconds, 
must swing in unison with that of the 
standard clock on Observatory Hill. 
This is accomplished by means of 
electro-magnets placed near the pen- 
dulums of the clocks to be controlled; 
and the electric impulses are automati- 
cally sent from the Observatory clock 
by ' means of ingenious mechanism 
specially designed for the purpose. 
Each clock is provided with a means 
for verifying its accuracy, or agreement 
with the Observatory standard, which 
means is fully explained in printed 
notices conspicuously posted near the 
clocks. Thus if the public clocks are 
out of adjustment one can obtain the 
true time by Ustening to the telegraph 
sounder inside the case. There are 
other clocks, similarly controlled, in 



TOA— TRA 

the offices of the D. & H. C. Co. and 
elsewhere. The Observatory time can 
always be relied on within a second 
and one-quarter, and on nine days out 
of ten within one-third of a second. 

" Standard time," now kept by these 
clocks, is five minutes, one second slow 
of local time, which was always used 
in Albany previous to November, 1883. 
All public and private clocks, together 
with those of all the railroads and tele- 
graphs in this part of the United States 
are regulated to the new standard time, 
which is that of the seventy-fifth mer- 
idian, west from Greenwich. 

Toasts. — At the reception given 
Gen. Lafayette in this city, July i, 
1825, the General gave the first volun- 
teer toast as follows : 

" Albany as I have known it, and Albany 
as it is now — a comparative standard be- 
tween royal guardianship and the sell-govern- 
ment of the people; may this difference be 
more and more illustrated at home and under- 
stood abroad." 

By Daniel Webster, on the same 
occasion : 

" The ancient and hospitable cit^ of Al- 
bany, where Gen. Lafayette found his head- 
quarters in 1778, and where men of his prin- 
ciples ^XiA good quarters at all times." 

Topography. — Albany, the capital 
of the State of New York, its fourth 
largest city, and the twenty-first largest 
in the United States, is situated at the 
head of sloop navigation on the west 
bank of the Hudson river, 145 miles 
from New York, and 374 from Wash- 
ington, D. C., in latitude 42.39 and 
longitude 73.45. Along the riverfront 
the land is low, but a little distance 
back it rises about 200 feet, and then 
stretches away to the westward in a 
sandy plain. The hill is divided by 
four gullies running east and west, 
which have been much modified by 
grading, and within a mile of the river 
disappear altogether. Still there are 
points where the banks can only be 



[56 



climbed by steps, and, therefore, are in- 
accessible for teams. By the Dongan 
charter, the limits of the city were 
fixed at one mile on the river front, 
and extending northwest the same 
width 16 miles. In 1870 this generous 
allotment was curtailed, and the west- 
ern boundary of the city is now only 
about 4:j miles from the river. Acces- 
sions have, however, been made north 
and south of the original grant, and 
the river front is now about four miles. 
The soil is underlaid with slate rock at 
a depth corresponding with the bed of 
the river; then comes gravel, and next, 
as the ground rises, 150 to 250 feet of 
blue clay; then yellow sand. The 
soil on the slopes is this blue clay, 
which becomes mixed with sand at the 
top of the plateau, and west it is about 
all sand. 

Townsend Park, at the intersection 
of Washington and Central avenues, 
between Lark and Knox streets. When 
first inclosed with a fence, in 1833, it 
was proposed to call it Washington 
Park and erect there a statue of the 
Father of his Country; but he escaped 
the honor. 

Trade, The Board of, was organ- 
ized in 1847, and incorporated in 1864. 
It inhabits spacious and convenient 
rooms at 40 State St., in what was once 
Association Hall. It has 150 members 
who pay yearly dues of ^10. This 
entitles them to the use of the room to 
buy and sell in. The leading com- 
mercial papers are on file, and occa- 
sionally public meetings are held there. 
Robert Geer. pres. : vice prests., An- 
drew G. White, C. B. Tillinghast; 
Jacob A. Smith, sec; Thomas Austin, 
treas. 

Trade Unions. — Nearly all the 
trades have their unions in this city, 
among which the stonecutters, the 
molders, the cigarmakers and the 



'57 



TRO— UNI 



typographical unions are prominent. 
They are said to number in all 7,000. 
There is a central organization called 
the Workingmen's Assembly, which 
acts in conjunction with the State 
Workingmen's Assembly. It has been 
in" existence over two years. The 
avowed object is to elevate the work- 
ingmen and protect the rights of labor. 
They have as yet taken no part as a 
body in politics. There are also six 
local assemblies and one district assem- 
bly of the Knights of Labor. 

Troy, six miles north of Albany, is 
a city of 56,747 inhabitants, by the cen- 
sus of 1880; chartered as a village in 
1791; as a city in i8i6r Is reached 
by rail, steamboat, or horse cars, and 
will well repay a visit. Thirty or more 
factories, employing over 6,000 hands, 
manufacture shirts and collars. The 
iron and stove interests are very large. 

Tweddle Building, cor. State and 
N. Pearl sts., stands partly on the site 
of the home of Philip Livingston, a 
signer of the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence. It is said that he planted the 
elm tree which once stood on the cor- 
ner nearby. (See Elm Tree Corner.) 
Tweddle Hall, which was opened June 
28, i860, was burned between 7 and 
12 A. M., Jan. 16, 1883, and the pres- 
ent building was erected on its founda- 
tions. It is used for stores and offices, 
prominent among the latter being 
Bull's Insurance. The archaeological 
committee of the Albany Institute have 
recommended that at or near the cor- 
ner wall of this building should be 
placed a marble slab bearing this in- 
scription : 

17 — Let Albany — 76. 

Remember with pride that 

This ground bore the Dwelling of 

Philip Livingston, 

Born 1716, Died 1778, 

Who with Jefferson and Franklin 

Signed the Declaration of Independence. 



Twins. — This event, for which none 
of us are prepared, happened in 22 
different Albany families during the 
year 1883. 

Underwriters, Albany Board of, 

incorporated March 20, 1873. Object, 
to inculcate just and equitable prin- 
ciples in the business of insurance; to 
establish and maintain uniformity 
among its members in policies or con- 
tracts of insurance, and to acquire, 
preserve and disseminate valuable in- 
formation relative to the business in 
which they are engaged. The insur- 
ance Patrol (see Fire Department) 
is maintained by this board. Annual 
meeting, third Tuesday in April, 
Regular meetings, second and fourth 
Tuesday in the month. G. D. Van 
Vliet, pres.; A. Douw Lansing, vice- 
pres.; F. B. Hubbard, treas. Rooms 
at the Protectives' house, No. 41 
Hudson ave. 

Union University. — (For the 
medical department, see Medical 
College; law department, see Law 
School; see, also, Dudley Observa- 
tory and Pharmacy, College of.) 
The union of these institutions with 
Union College was consummated in 
April, 1873. While neither gained 
nor lost anything in property or powers, 
all were united under a board of gover- 
nors, thus securing unity of action and 
opinion. Rev. Eliphalet Nott Potter, 
D. D., LL. D., pres. 

Union College, located at Schen- 
ectady, 14 miles from Albany, was 
founded Feb. 25, 1795, and was the 
first college chartered by the Regents 
of the University. It has been an im- 
portant factor in the intellectual growth 
of the State and nation. Its presidents 
and professors have been men of fore- 
most ability as teachers, and have pub- 
lished many works of world-wide repu- 
tation. The following is the list of 
presidents: John Blair Smith, D. D.; 



UNI— VIT 158 

Jonathan Edwards, D. D., Jonathan 
Maxcy, D. D., Eliphalet Nott, D. D., 
Laurens P. Hickok, D. D., Charles A. 
Aiken, D. D., Eliphalet Nott Potter, 
D. D. Of the 6,500 graduates, about 
4,650 have been from the State of New 
York. The college is well endowed 
for special purposes, but needs a pro- 
fessional endowment fund. There are 
numerous scholarships, prize scholar- 
ships and prizes. The present able 
and efficient faculty insist on a high 
standard of scholarship. There are 
three libraries, large collections in 
Natural History department, complete 
sets of philosophical apparatus, and 
the engineering department and chemi- 
cal laboratory are well supplied with 
models and apparatus. Military in- 
struction is given by an officer of the 
United States army. There are two 
literary societies (The Philomathean, 
founded 1793; The Adelphic, 1797) 
and a theological society. These so- 
cieties have had much to do with the 
reputation oT the alumni for forensic 
ability. Degrees are conferred upon 
graduates from the classical, scientific, 
civil engineering, chemical and post- 
graduate courses. Prof. Cady Staley 
is Dean of the Faculty. 

United States Officers, in Albany, 
are mentioned under the separate heads 
of Post-Office, Custom House, In- 
ternal Revenue, Inspectors of 
Steam Vessels. Commissioners are, 
W. Frothingham and J. Hampden 
Wood; deputy marshal, James H. 
Kelley, Government building; Board 
of pension examining surgeons, Chas. 
H. Porter, WilUam H. Bailey, Herman 
Bendell : masters and examiners in 
U. S. Circuit and District Courts, Wm. 
Lansing, J. Hampden Wood. 

United States Custom House, 
Court House and Post-Office, see 

Government Building. 



Universalist Church, Chestnut st. 
above Dove. There is no settled pas- 
tor. O. E. Wilson is superintendent of 
the Sunday-school. 

Vale of Tawasentha. — Indian 
name for the valley of the Normans- 
kill, in Albany county (see notes to 
Longfellow's Hiawatha). It was the 
home of Nawadaha, the sweet singer : 

" In the vale of Tawasentha, 

In the green and silent valley, 

By the pleasant water-courses 

Dwelt the singer Nawadaha. 

Round about the Indian village 

Spread the meadows and the corn fields, 

And beyond them stood the forest, 

Stood the groves ol singing pine trees, 

Green in summer, white in winter, 

Ever sighing, ever singing. 

" And the pleasant water-courses; 

You could trace them through the valley 

By the rushing in the spring time, 

By the alders in the summer, . 

By the white fog in the autumn, 

By the black line in the winter; 

And beside them dwelt the singer. 

In the vale of Tawasentha, 

In the green and silent valley, 

There he sang of Hiawatha, 
Sang the song of Hiawatha." 

Veeder's Photographic Studio is 

at 32 North Pearl street. Besides 
doing a large portrait business, Mr. 
Veeder pays special attention to out- 
door work and publishes a great num- 
ber of stereoscopic views of scenery, 
buildings, etc. Particularly fine and 
much sought after by tourists and 
others are his views of the Capitol, 
which he has in great variety and sells 
at very low prices. 

Vital Statistics. — According to the 
reports made to the Board of Health 
(which see), during the year ended 
Jan, 31, 1883, the number of deaths in 
this city was 2,167; births, 2,034; mar- 
riages, 588. The death rate was 22.26 
to every 1,000 inhabitants, estimating 
the population at 97,344, which is upon 
the rate of increase according to the 
last census. Of the deaths, 366 were 




QNVTiMOO 



159 



WAS 



from consumption; 732 were children 
under five years of age. 

Washington visited Albany August 
4, 1783, when the citizens welcomed 
him in an address, to which he re- 
plied : 

" While I contemplate with inexpressible 
pleasure the future tranquility and glory of our 
common country, I cannot but take particular 
interest in the anticipation of the increase in 
prosperity and greatness of the ancient and re- 
spectable city of Albany, from whose citizens I 
have received such distinguished tokens of their 
approbation and affection." 

The archaeological committee of the 
Albany Institute have recommended 
that a tablet bearing these words should 
be placed in the new City Hall. It 
has not yet been done. 

Washington Park. — If there is any 
one thing of which Albany has a right 
to be proud, it is her beautiful park. 
The Capitol, grand as it is, belongs to 
the State, but the park is entirely a city 
institution. The accompanying plan 
explains more fully than words can do, 
the way in which it is laid out. Fol- 
lowing are the references to the points 
of special interest : 



I. 


Swings. 


2. 


Croquet Lawn. 


3- 


Armsby Memorial. 


4- 


Rustic Shelter. 


5- 


Meadow. 


6. 


Refectory. 


7- 


Fountain Shelter. 


8. 


Terrace. 


9- 


Deer Paddock. 


10. 


Deer Paddock Outlook. 




Lake House. 




Site of proposed King Fountain 




Lake. 




Foot Bridge. 




Overlook Hill. 



The area of the park is 81 27-100 
acres. It contains three miles of the 
best possible drive-way and six miles of 
walks. The lake is 1,600 feet long; 
average width, 136 feet; area, five acres. 



The park is reached by the State st. 
line of horse-cars, which go within a 
short distance of it (at Knox st.), but 
more directly by the Hamilton st. line, 
which run along Madison ave. directly 
on the border. In the season for 
flowers no one should miss seeing the 
beautiful display of 40,000 bedded 
plants, most of which are placed near 
Willett St., between Hudson and Lan- 
caster. A band plays in the cupola of 
the lake-house riearly every week in 
the summer, and is listened to by thou- 
sands who walk or drive about the. 
beautiful grounds. In the skating sea- > 
son the lake is, of course, the great 
place of resort; but at all seasons of 
the year, when the weather will per- 
mit, the park is frequented by hundreds 
daily. 

The special features of the park, 
aside from the artistic manner in which 
it is laid out, and the careful manner 
in which it is tended, are its noble 
trees, which were there when the 
land was taken for park purposes; 
and the scenery afforded by the dis- 
tant Catskill mountains and the Hel- 
derbergs. 

There has, as yet, been little attempt 
to adorn the grounds with works of 
art; but this is a mere question of time. 
Already a bequest has been made by 
the late Henry L. King, leaving $20,- 
000 for the erection of a fountain, the 
site of which is indicated upon the 
map. 

While the park is of modern origin, 
the ground forming its eastern portion 
has been public property since it was 
transferred to the city in 1686 by the 
gift of His Majesty James II., being in- 
cluded in the famous Dongan charter. 
In 1S02 a portion of the ground was 
set apart for the purposes of a powder 
house, and Oct. 6, 1806, the ground 
between what is now Madison ave. and 
State St. and Willett and Knox sts. was 
dedicated as the Middle Public Square. 
Three years later the fancy for chang- 



WAS 



[60 



ing names of streets, etc., which has 
prevailed in this city ever since, mani- 
fested itself and extended to the square, 
which was re-christened after the 
father of his country, and it has been 
known as Washington Square, Wash- 
ington Parade Ground, and Washing- 
ton Park ever since. The ground ad- 
joining this section on the west was 
made a public burial-place in 1800, 
and was used as such for more than 
half a century. 

The project of a public park on an 
extensive scale was not carried out 
without great efforts. It was discussed 
for years in the newspapers; the Al- 
bany Institute passed resolutions, orig- 
inated treatises and petitioned the com- 
mon council in vain; but in 1869, after 
opposition that did not cease till it had 
followed the scheme into the executive 
chamber, a law was passed under 
which the present beautiful park exists. 

The act creating the park commis- 
sion, under whose charge it was con- 
structed and is maintained, was passed 
May 5, of that year, and set apart 
what was then known as the burial 
ground property and the old Washing- 
ton parade ground; also the Peniten- 
tiary grounds and the Alms-house farm. 
By subsequent acts the powers of the 
board were extended over the ap- 
proaches to the park, and thus was in- 
stituted a system of boulevards. 

The first meeting of the commission 
was held May 8th, following, the board 
consisting of John Bridgford, Arthur 
Bott, George Dawson, Dudley Olcott, 
William Cassidy, John Fair, Rufus W. 
Peckham, Jr., Samuel H. Ransom and 
John H. Van Antwerp. The latter 
was made pres. ; Mr. Olcott, treas.,and 
Wm. D. Morange, sec. The trustees, 
as the commissioners were called, were 
divided into three classes, three to 
serve three years, three to serve six 
years, three to serve nine years; their 
successors to be appointed by the may- 
or, and serve nine years. 



The plans originally adopted by the 
board were prepared by Messrs. Bo- 
gart & Cuyler. The grounds embraced- 
by these were included in that portion 
of the present park bounded by Wil- 
lett St. on the east, Madison and Hud- 
son aves. on the south. State st. on the 
north, Robin st. on the west, for a dis- 
tance of about 632 feet, thence run- 
ning west a distance of about 132 feet, 
and thence south to Madison ave. 
The development of the plans was 
from 1869 to 1872, under the super- 
vision of Mr. R. H. Bingham, as chief 
engineer, and William S. Egerton, as 
assistant. In 1872 Mr. Egerton as- 
sumed charge of all designs and super- 
intendence. 

Early in July, 1870, work was begun 
and the Washington parade ground 
was nearly completed, having been 
fenced, graded, drained and the walks 
and drive-ways laid out and graveled. 

In 1 87 1 that portion known as the 
burial grounds was entered upon, and 
the walks and drive-ways sufficiently 
advanced to be thrown open to the 
public. 

In 1873 the development of the 
plans was confined to that portion of 
the lake section lying between Snipe 
St., or Lexington ave., on the east, and 
Robin St. on the west, and to the fur- 
ther completion of the drives, walks 
and lawn surfaces in other portions. 

In 1874 the work of construction 
was confined to that portion of the 
park bounded by Madison ave., the 
properties of Messrs. Hussey, Olcott 
and King on the south, the present 
Barnes and Brown properties on the 
north. Perry st. on the west and Robin 
St. on the east, embracing an area of 
some 15 acres. 

In 1875 the bridge spanning the 
lake and the lake house were erected, 
and gas was introduced around the 
lake. (Electric lights were introduced 
in 1881.) 

In 1880, what is known as the Knox 



[6i 



WAT 



St. property, comprising 9 4-10 acres, 
was taken and impro\'ed. 

In 1882 the Taylor and Hussey 
properties, on Madison ave., were 
added to the park, and in 1883 were 
partially improved, the completion of 
the plan of improvement being deferred 
until the season of 1884. The garden- 
er's cottage, propagating houses and 
storage houses were built in 1883 upon 
a portion of the Alms House grounds 
contiguous to the Lexington ave. en- 
trance to the park. 

Western Ave., under the control 
of the commissioners, extends from 
near the northwest corner of the park 
to the toll-gate; is 8,200 feet in length, 
99 feet wide, and paved to a width of 
40 feet with granite block, curbed and 
sewered. The sidewalks, 29 feet 6 inches 
wide, are flagged to a width of 6 feet, 
bordered with grass and shaded by trees 
(or will be when they are grown), 
40 feet apart. The location of the gas, 
water and sewage service is between 
the sidewalk and the house-lot line, 
thus doing away with all disturbance 
of the road-bed. In sleighing time 
this avenue is alive with gay turn-outs 
and fast horses. Although the im- 
provement was conducted by the com- 
missioners, the cost was assessed upon 
the contiguous property and is not a 
city charge. The work was begun 
Nov. 16, 1876, and completed and 
accepted Oct. 18, 1877. 

The Northern Boulevard extends 
from Western ave., east of the toll- 
gate, to the intersection of Central and 
Clinton aves., a distance of 5,525 feet. 
From Western ave. to Washington 
ave. it is 150 feet wide; from Wash- 
ington to Main ave., 100 feet wide; 
the remainder 66 feet wide. It is 
paved with a combination of the Tel- 
ford and Macadam systems, and is 
greatly liked by pleasure drivers. 
This work was begun in Jan., 1876, 
and that part between Western and 
Central aves. completed in 1878. It 



is the intention, eventually, to extend 
this boulevard to the Dudley Observa- 
tory grounds, and thence by bridging 
the tracks, to connect with the attrac- 
tive drives, north of Tivoli Hollow, on 
Rensselaer ave., and the Loudonville 
and Shaker roads. 

The total cost of the Washington 
Park, including the Northern Boule- 
vard, city parks, improved and main- 
tained since 188 1, and all lands bought 
by the commissioners for cons ruction, 
maintenance, etc., up to Jan. I, 1884, 
is ^1,363,032.95. The real estate and 
construction of Washington Park and 
Western ave. cost $1,073,020.91. (For 
park commissioners, etc., see Appen- 
dix.) 

Water Works. — The water supply 
of Albany is controlled by a board of 
commissioners, created by chap. 235 of 
the Laws of 1850. They serve without 
pay; vacancies are filled by a two- 
third vote of the common council, 
which has the power of removal; 
office, 61 State street. 

The Old System. — Previous to the 
creation of the commission, the city 
was supplied by a private stock com- 
pany, organized Feb. 2, 1802. The 
water was drawn from the Maezlandt 
kill and from the Middle creek,* north- 
west of the city, and distributed 
through iron pipes and wooden logs. 
In 1850, the water commissioners 
caused examinations to be made of the 
Hudson, the Mohawk, the Patroon's 
creek, the Normanskill, and the lakes 
on the Helderbergs, and finally, with 
Wm. J. McAlpine as engineer, a dam 
was built, about six miles west of here, 
where three streams met and formed 
the Patroon's creek, and thus was 
created Rensselaer lake, covering, 
when full, about forty acres, and hold- 
ing from 100,000,000 to 200,000,000 
gallons. From here the water was 

* The " Middle Creek " supply has been cut 
off 



WAT 



162 



conducted through a brick conduit, 
egg-shaped, four feet high and nearly 
four miles long, to Bleecker reservoir 
(west of Ontario street), holding 30,- 
000,000 gallons. A little way this side 
of West Albany, two other reservoirs 
were constructed by dams thrown 
across the Patroon's creek, and called 
the Upper and Lower Tivoli lakes, the 
upper being for storage and subsiding, 
and the lower for distribution. These 
were supplied from the water that en- 
tered the creek east of Rensselaer lake. 
A 24-inch main, about 7,000 feet long, 
was laid from the lower lake to the in- 
tersection of Van Woert and North 
Pearl streets, at which point the water 
enters the distributing mains, Rensse- 
laer lake supplying through Bleecker 
reservoir all that part of the city west of 
Pearl street; Tivoli lake, all east of 
and including Pearl street. Meantime, 
as the city grew westward, it was found 
that no inconsiderable portion lay 
above Bleecker reservoir, and was 
therefore without supply. In addition 
to this, the creek failed to meet the 
consumption, and several water fam- 
ines were the consequence. 

The Present System. — After much 
public discussion and several surveys, 
the commissioners fixed upon the Hud- 
son as the source of additional supply; 
their recommendations were adopted 
by the common council and their plans 
carried into effect. The water is taken 
from the river outside the pier opposite 
Quackenbush street, where the chan- 
nel current strikes. In the center of 
the pier is a well-chamber, six feet in 
diameter and 80 feet deep. Into this 
the water, screened by copper wire 100 
meshes to the square inch, pours 
through a c ilvert below low-water 
mark. A tunnel five feet in diameter 
and nearly 900 feet long, extends from 
this well-chamber under the basin to 
the pumping works cor. Quackenbush 
and Montgomery sts. Here are two 
engines capable of sending up to 



Bleecker reservoir — 245 feet above 
tide — ten million gallons every twenty- 
four hours. The force main through 
which it goes is 30 inches in diameter, 
7,723 feet long, and is laid under 
Quackenbush street and Clinton ave. 
The works were completed and pump- 
ing began Sept. 14, 1875. 

Still the more elevated portions of 
the city received no benefit. Accord- 
ingly, another reservoir with a capacity 
of six or seven million gallons was 
built on Prospect (or Powder-house) 
hill, a sand-knoll north of Central ave. 
and east of Colby street, 55 feet above 
Bleecker reservoir, and 300 feet above 
tide. A second engine was put into 
operation Feb. 6, 1878, and through a 
two- foot main, running to a well- 
chamber, like that on the pier, pumps 
the water from the Bleecker reservoir 
to Prospect hill. It was now necessary 
to divide the city into three services 
instead of two : the upper service, 
which from Prospect hill supplies .all 
west of Lark street; the middle ser- 
vice, which from the Bleecker reser- 
voir supplies Lark street and all east to 
Pearl street; and the lower service, 
which from the Tivoli lakes supplies 
Pearl street and all east thereof. Thus 
is insured an abundant and uninter- 
rupted supply as unfailing as the Hudson 
itself. Should the Tivoli reservoirs 
run short, water can be sant down the 
creek from the Rensselaer lake, or di- 
rect from the Bleecker reservoir, into 
which the pumps can send their ten 
million gallons daily. Meantime, it is 
designed to hold a reserve always in 
the Rensselaer lake in case any acci- 
dent should occur to both engines at 
once, and to impound in each year in 
February and ^Iarch enough water to 
supply the city when the river is turbid 
with the spring freshets. When, at 
other times, impurities appear in the 
Rensselaer lake, the supply from that 
source will be shut off entirely and 
only the river water used. 



i63 



WES— WIL 



The prejudice against water from 
the river was at first very great, and is 
not yet entirely overcome, but the com- 
missioners point to the death rate as 
showing conclusively that the health of 
the city has not changed for the worse 
since the river water has come into 
use. They claim that no city in the 
United States has a better or more 
abundant, or more wholesome supply. 
The quantity used is believed to amount 
daily to lOO gallons for every man, 
woman and child in Albany. 

The Old Water-Works, which 
were bought by the present commis- 
sion, included a reservoir on the spot 
now occuppied by the high school. 
The main through which the water was 
brought from the Maezlandtkill is still 
used, and from it consumers in North 
Albany, and many upon Broadway 
north of Clinton ave. and Pearl st. 
from Clinton ave. to Columbia st. 
are supplied. This water is very 
hard. 

Water Rents are collected in the 
same way as taxes, and are assessed 
upon all real estate fronting on streets 
through which the mains are laid, and 
which, in default of payment, may be 
sold the same as for non-payment of 
taxes. Vacant lots are assessed 5 cts. 
per foot; private dwellings from 20 to 
50 feet front, one story, $5 to $9; two 
story, $S to ^12; three story, $11 to 
$15; four story, $14 to Si 8; rive story, 
^17 to $21; stores, shops, private 
stables, etc., two-thirds the above rates. 
There is no extra charge for the first 
bath-room or water-closet. 

Finances. — The original works cost 
$850,000; the additional supply, in- 
cluding pumping works at the river 
and at Prospect Hill, Prospect Hill 
reservoir, the mains for the new ser- 
vice, etc., $700,000; total, $1,550,000. 
Of this the commissioners, besides 
meeting for thirty years all the expense 
of maintenance, additional piping, etc., 
will have paid up to May i, 1884, 



$460,000, leaving a debt of $1,090,000, 
for which there is to show one of the 
best systems of water supply in the 
United States; and this, too, with rates 
considerably lower than those of other 
cities. By act of the legislature of 
1884, the commissioners are authorized 
to expend $400,000 more; and another 
pumping engine is to be procured, and 
means taken to increase the supply of 
water with special reference to the 
southern part -of the city. (For water 
commissioners, see Appendix.) 

West Albany. — Just outside the 
city limits on the Central railroad, and 
where the large repairing shops of the 
road and the cattle market are situ- 
ated. Reached also by State street 
horse cars. (See Cattle Market.) 

West Shore Railroad. — Properly 
the New York, West Shore & Buffalo ; 
chartered June 14, 1 88 1. Depot, foot 
of Maiden lane, same as D. & H. C. 
Co.'s. Opened from Weehawken to 
Albany, for passenger business, July 9, 
1883; opened to Buffalo, Jan. i, 1884. 
This city is connected with the main 
line by branch from Coeymans, twelve 
miles south. Length of road to Buf- 
falo, 407 miles. Number of locomo- 
tives, 130; passenger cars, 60; freight 
cars, 3,234. Average rate charged 
passenger per mile through, 1.63 cents; 
way, 2.31 cents. 

Wilson & Gross. — Clothing manu- 
facturers, occupy premises located cor. 
Broadway and Maiden lane, a five- 
story brick building, 26x125 feet, erec- 
ted by them with a view to perfect 
adaptation to the manufacture of cloth- 
ing, and embodies all the advantages 
which ample means and a perfect 
knowledge of the business could en- 
compass. The first and second floors 
constitute the retail department; the 
third and fourth floors are devoted to 
the wholesale, and the fifth floor to the 



WOM— YOU I 

cutting department. The firm employ 
from twelve to fifteen cutters, and four 
traveling salesmen are engaged solicit- 
ing trade through New York and the 
New England States. Three hundred 
operators find occupation with the firm 
in the m£.nufacture of clothing — by far 
the greater part of whom reside within 
the limits of Albany. This firm origi- 
nate styles, and do the leading business 
in this section of the State. 

Woman Suffrage Society. — A 

small but active band of workers who 
meet frequently to discuss the import- 
ance of extending the right of suffrage 
to women. Miss Martha Winne, 
president; Miss Kate Stoneman, sec. 

Woman's Christian Temperance 
Union. — Rooms, 69 South Pearl st. 
Has a free reading room, and is doing 
much to save the young from intemper- 
ate habits; was active in securing the 
passage of the law by the State legis- 
lature, requiring instruction to be given 
in public schools as to the effects of nar- 
cotics and stimulants upon the human 
system. Mrs. Ecob, pres.; Mrs. S. R. 
Gray, Mrs. Jump, Mrs. M. A. Wyatt, 
vice-presidents; Mrs. D.N, Kirk, sec; 
Mrs. J. Tenney, treas.; Mrs. Dr. S. 
H. Freeman, Miss E. M. Jenkins, ex- 
ecutive committee. 

Women's Exchange. — No. 65 N. 
Pearl street. Organized November 15, 
1 881. Opened December i, same 
year, at 25 Steuben street. Removed 
April 20, 1882, to 14 North Pearl street, 
and on May, 1883, to present location. 
Object: to "afford reduced or impov- 
erished gentlewomen an opportunity of 
quietly and unobtrusively earning 
money to supplement narrow incomes." 
Any person paying $5 becomes a mem- 
ber, and is entitled to enter the work 
of three persons for one year. All 
work is entered through numbers in- 
stead of names. Tickets are issued 



64 

for $2 each, admitting the work of one 
person for one year. Prices on all 
articles are fixed by the persons enter- 
ing the work. The society receives 10 
per cent commissions on all sales. 
Last year 318 persons were paid sums 
ranging from 27 cents to $230. Lunch 
is served from 1 1 to 3. Miss Lois M. 
Viele, business manager; Mrs. C. P. 
Williams, director; Mrs. D.K. Bartlett, 
secretary. 

Yankees. — The time has been when 
" Yankees " were not regarded with 
the highest favor in this old Dutch 
city, and the term is even yet some- 
times used in reproach, which, how- 
ever, always amuses rather than en- 
rages the " Yankee " who hears it. The 
application of the word varies accord- 
ing to locality. In the South, the re- 
bellion conferred it, with the accom- 
panying d — d degree, upon all residents 
north of Mason & Dixon's line. In 
Canada, it is applied indiscriminately to 
all residents of North America south 
of the Dominion; while in Albany it 
is restricted to those living east of the 
New York State line. According to 
the census of 1880, the number of 
those of New England parentage resi- 
dent here was as follows : 

Maine 62 

New Hampshire 290 

Vermont 280 

Massachusetts 842 

Connecticut 421 

Rhode Island 63 

Total 1,958 

Young Men's Association, rooms, 
cor. North Pearl and Steuben streets; 
oldest institution of its character in the 
United States, Founded, with a mem- 
bership of about 750, Dec. 10, 1833. 
Amos Dean, first president, elected 
Dec. 13, and re-elected at first annual 
meeting, Feb. 3, 1834. Incorporated 
March 12, 1835. ^^"^ the purpose of 
" establishing and maintaining a li- 



1 65. YOU 

brary, reading-room, literary and sci- F. Avery, treas.; B. Irving Stanton, 
entific lectures, and other means* of Oscar D. Robinson, R. S. Annesley, 
promoting moral and intellectual im- curators of the library; Cornelius H. 
provement." For twenty-two years it Chase, librarian; membership, 191 1. 
sustained a debating society. It occu- 
pied rooms in Knickerbocker hall, on Young Men's Christian Associa- 
Broadway, where Nos. 451 and 453 tion. — Rooms in Perry building, 20 
are now, until 1 840; in Exchange North Pearl street. An organization 
building, where the new Government for the social, moral, intellectual and 
building now stands, until 1852; in spiritual improvement and enjoyment 
the Commercial bank building, until of young men. Organized Feb. 24, 
1870; in Music hall building until 1857; incorporated April 24, 1867. 
September, 1877, when it came to its But reorganized on the plan of like 
present rooms, having leased the associations all over the wurld, about 
Bleecker buildings on North Pearl, June, 1881. The association keeps 
Steuben and Chapel streets for ten open every we'ek-day a free reading 
years, with right to release fur ten years room for young men ; holds]three meet- 
longer. It has some valuable pictures, ings weekly for young men only; also 
a good variety of current magazines courses of lectures and practical talks, 
and newspapers, and a well selected receptions, entertainments, etc. Mem- 
circulating and reference library of bership, 362. Current expenses about 
16,000 volumes. Its largest benefac- 33,ooo annually. The officers and 
tions have been Si, 000 in books from board of managers of the association 
Dr. George Cooke; $10,000 in a be- are: Charles H. Mills, pres.; Samuel 
quest from Hon. Erastus Corning, and S. Hatt, 1st vice-pres.; Rubert Mc- 
$1,000 from Miss Catherine Quacken- Roberts, 2d vice-pres.; Walter J. Eaton, 
bush. All real estate and vested funds rec. sec; Frank W. Ober, cor. sec; 
are under management of a board of I. D. F. Lansing, treas.; V. H. Young- 
trustees, of which Erastus Corning is man, John A. Howe, D. R. Niver, Ezra 
president, and William P. Rudd, sec- H. Stevens, Oscar D. Robinson, George 
retary and treasurer. The ordinary Bouton, Dr. Henry March, J(jhn Tem- 
affairs are managed by a board of pleton, A. M. Holmes, 
managers, 18 in number. Life mem- The Railroad Y. M. C. A., having 
bers, of which there are 180 living, pay for its mission the improvement of rail- 
$50 at one time. Annual members, road employees, has an active branch 
male and female, pay $2. It will be in this city, of which Geo. S. Weaver 
seen that 4 cts. per week pays for the is chairman of executive committee; J. 
privileges here afforded, so that no one H. Hunter, sec. and treas.; Lemuel S. 
living in or near the city can lack Fish, sec. A reading-room, opened 
facilities for access to the best and May 4, 1880, is maintained in the yard 
freshest literature at the cheapest pos- of the Union depot, between Columbia 
sible cost. This association deserves, and Orange sts., where meetings are 
as it has, the strongest claims upon the held, entertainments given, etc Mem- 
sympathy and support of the best men bership about 180. Up to Jan. i, 1884, 
and women of Albany. A catalogue 33,856 persons had visited the rooms, 
of 290 pages was published in 1880, 95 per cent oeing railroad men. Rooms 
and a supplement of 42 pages in 1882. open daily from 8 A. M. to 9 p. m. 
• Annual election occurs fourth Thurs- Library, 600 vols. A new building is 
day in March. Eugene Burlingame, soon. to be erected, 
pres.; Albert L. Judson, sec; Benj, 




'^^^^^■^ ' 



■IV 



?r.w£ 



mm 



!",=:v 



APPENDIX 



City Officers. — Following is a list 
of the city officers. Terms expire, un- 
less otherwise noted, on the first Tues- 
day in May, 1886. (See CiTY GoveRN- 
ment) : 

Mayor. — A. Bleecker Banks, dem., 
elected by a majority of 250 over John 
Swinburne, rep., who received 9,848 
votes. 

Recorder.— Anthony Gould ; term 
expires first Tuesday in May, 1888. 

Bo.\RD OF Aldermen. — Norman L. 
Snow, M.D., pres.; Martin Delehanty, 
clerk; assistant, James V. Viggers. 

Aldermen-at-Large— Robt. H. Moore 
(dem.), Norman L. Snow (dem.) ; First 
ward, Augustus Whitman (rep.) ; sec- 
ond, Jeremiah Kieley (dem.) ; third, 
Thomas F. Corcoran (dem.) ; fourth, 
James Lyons (dem.) ; fifth, Thomas 
E. Dearstyne (dem.) ; sixth, Galen R. 
Hitt (dem.) ; seventh, John MuUon 
(dem.); eighth,Thos. J. Judge (dem.); 
ninth, Patrick Cahill (dem.) ; tenth, 
James Rooney (dem.) ; eleventh, Geo. 
S. Tice (dem.); twelfth, Patrick Mc- 
Cann (dem.) ; thirteenth, Samuel C. 
Harris (dem.) ; fourteenth, David J. 
Norton (rep.) ; fifteenth, James Thorn- 
ton (dem.) ; sixteenth, Richard Hun- 
ter (rep.) ; seventeenth, John H. 
Adams (rep.) Dems. 15; reps. 4. 

Committees. -Academies and schools 
— Moore, Hitt and Norton. 

Accounts. — Moore, Thornton, Dear- 
styne, Judge and Hunter. 

Applications to legislature. — Kieley, 
Cahill and Corcoran. 

Docks and ferries. — Lyons, Cahill 
and MuUon. 

Fire department. — Tice, Lyons and 
Rooney. 



Land. — Mullon, Thornton and Ad- 
ams. 

Law. — Hitt, Harris and Norton. 

Levels,— Cahill, Dearstyne and Hun- 
ter. 

Markets. — Rooney,Lyons and Judge. 

Navigation, trade and commerce. — 
Cahill, Hitt and Hunter. 

Police. — Mullon, Judge and Tice. 

Printing. — Tice, Lyons and Rooney. 

Privileges and elections. — Harris, 
Dearstyne and Whitman. 

Public buildings. — President, Mc- 
Cann, Mullon, Kieley and Corcoran. 

Public celebrations and entertain- 
ments. — Hitt, McCann, Kieley, Thorn- 
ton and Whitman. 

Railroads. - Judge, Rooney and Nor- 
ton. 

Relations of city and county. — Dear- 
styne, Moore and Adams. 

Streets, N. S. — McCann, Mullon and 
Cahill. 

Streets, S. S. — Corcoran, Moore and 
Whitman. 

Streets, W. S. — Thornton, Harris and 
Adams. 

Water. — Kieley, McCann, Harris, 
Corcoran and Tice. 

Member of Board of Finance. — Robt, 
H. Moore. 

CHAMBERL.A.IN. — Charles A. Hills; 
term expires Sept. 28, 1884; deputy, 
J. Y. Paige; term expires same 
date. 

Receiver of Taxes. — William J. 
Maher; deputy, E. J. Giraty; terms 
expire Sept. 28, 1884. 

City Marshal. — Michael E, Hig- 
gins. 

Corporation Counsel. ^- Simon 
W. Rosendale, 



(167) 



CIT— COU 



[68 



City Engineer and Surveyor. — 
Reuben H. Bingham; deputy, John 
J. O'Hara. 

SuPT. Alms House. — John McKen- 
na; asst., Edward J. Fitzsimmons. 

City Physician. — Lewis Balch, M. 
D. 

District Physicians. — T. P. Bailey, 
1st dist.; F. D. Morrill, 2d dist.; 
Henry Lilienthal, 3d dist.; Frank J. 
Merrington, 4th dist.; Otto Ritzman, 
5th dist; S. E. UUman, 6th dist. 

Overseer of the Poor. Richard 
Parr; asst., John I. Burton. 

Street Commissioner. -Owen Gol- 
den; street supts., Lawrence Wetzel, 
Michael J. Hayden; supt of lamps, 
Thomas Powers. 

Clerk of Board of Contract and 
Apportionment. — Thomas J. Lana- 
han. 

Mayor's Clerk.— Henry Lansing. 

Janitor City Building. — Geo. B. 
Conley. 

Inspector Weights and Me.\s- 
ures. — Thomas J. Gilooly. 

Excise Commissioners. — Daniel J. 
O'Brien, Jas. Quinn, E. T, Rice; clerk, 
Thomas Hogan; terms expire May, 
1885. 

City Assessors. — Wm. J. Weaver, 
term expires 1887; Wm. J. Flynn, 
1866; Robert K. Oliver, 1885. 

Dock Master.— Robert T. Sher- 
man. 

Trustees of the Sinking Fund. — 
The Mayor, the Chamberlain and Vis- 
scher Ten Eyck. Term of Ten Eyck 
expires in Jan. 1887. 

Board of Health. — Dr. S. B. 
Ward, Dr. A. Vanderveer, Albert Gal- 
lup, R. H. Bingham, Thomas H. 
Dwyer, John McKenna. Hold office 
for life unless removed. Health Offi- 
cer, Dr. D. V. O'Leary; inspector, 
Lawrence Carey; asst., W. D. Dicker- 
man, James Rooney; clerk, Edward 
H. Long. 

Commissioners. 

Fire. — The Mayor, ex-offi,cio, pres.; 



Thomas Austin, term expires June, 
1884; Thomas Willard (sec), term ex- 
pires 1885; Andrew B. Uline, term 
expires 1886; John McEwen, term ex- 
pires 1887; James H. Lyman, term 
expires 1888. Lewis J. Miller, clerk; 
chief engineer, James McQuade. Of- 
fice, City Building. 

Park. — Erastus Corning, R. Lenox 
Banks, John G. Farnsworth, terms ex- 
pire 1887; John H. Van Antwerp, 
Dudley Olcott, Robert C. Pruyn, terms 
expire 1890; Grange Sard, Charles J. 
Buchannan, John H. Farrell, terms ex- 
pire 1893. Dudley Olcott, pres.; W. S. 
Egerton, sec. and engineer and sur- 
veyor. Office, City Building. 

Water. — VisscherTen Eyck, Henry 
H. xMartin, Michael Delehahty, Erastus 
Corning, John M. Kimball; terms for 
life unless removed. George W. Car- 
penter, supt.; Henry D. Keller, clerk. 
Office, 61 State st. 

Police.— The Mayor, ex-officio,-^xe's,.; 
James Mclntyre, L. C. G. Kshinka, 
dem.; Richard B. Rock, James H. 
Carroll, rep.; terms expire first Mon- 
day in Jan., 1888. Chief, John Maloy. 

Public Instruction (new board). — 
Geo. B. Hoyt, Herman Bendell, Douw 
H. Fonda, Robert D. Williams, Henry 
W. Lipman, John A. McCall, James 
M. Ruso, Henry T. Sanford, Peter J. 
Flinn, Edward J. Graham, Oren A. 
Wilson, Edward A. Durant, Jr. Four 
go out of office each year. 

Congressman. — From the i6th dis- 
trict, which consists of Albany county, 
Thomas J. Van Alstyne, of Albany ; 
term expires March 4, 1885. Salary, 
$5,000 and mileage. 

County Officers. — Following are 
the names of the county officers, with 
the dates when their terms will expire. 
(See County Government) : 

Board of Supervisors. Terms ex- 
pire in May, 1885. Ansel C. Requa, 
pres.; Thomas H. Craven, clerk; Elmer 
E. Richmond, journal clerk; Joseph 



169 



COU— LEG 



Johnson, door-keeper. Albany mem- 
bers : First ward, George J. Goetz 
(rep.) ; second, Michael J. Nolan 
(dem.); third, Wm. Casey (dem.); 
fourth, Patrick Cuddy (dem.) ; fifth, 
Peter J. McGowan (dem.); sixth, 
Thomas C. Jeffers (dem.) ; seventh. 
Marshal Te'^bull (rep.) ; eighth, Mich- 
ael J. Hayden (dem.) ; ninth, Wm. F. 
Reddy (dem.); tenth, Fredk. Stack- 
man (rep.) ; eleventh, Meredith Burke 
(dem.) ; twelfth, Jas. J. Wise (dem.) ; 
thirteenth, Joseph C. Griffin (dem.) ; 
fourteenth, Robert Geer (rep.) ; fif- 
teenth, John T. Brady (dem.) ; six- 
teenth, James Stackhouse (rep) ; seven- 
teenth, George Holler (rep.) Cohoes 
members — First ward, Marcus Ken- 
nedy (dem.) ; second, Truman W. 
Reynolds (dem.) ; third, Charles M. 
Nadeau (rep.) ; fourth, John P. Weber 
(dem.) ; fifth, George W. Smith (rep.) 
Town members — Berne, Thomas J. 
Wood (rep.) ; Bethlehem, John L. 
Winne (rep.) ; Coeymans, Horace 
Blodgett (rep.) ; Guilderland, Aaron 
Fuller (dem.) ; Knox, Charles G. 
Frink (dem.) ; New Scotland, Charles 
Wood (dem.) ; Rensselaerville, Jacob 

B. Norwood (rep.) ; Watervliet, Nicho- 
las T. Kane (dem.) ; Westerlo, Ansel 

C. Requa (dem.) Dems. 18; reps. 13. 
Sheriff. — William H. Keeler; term 

expires Jan. I, 1886; under sheriff, 
Isaac B. Cross; George R. Taylor, 
jailor. 

District Attorney. — D. Cady Her- 
rick. Office, Douw's building. Term 
expires Jan. i, 1887. Asst., John A. 
Delehanty. 

County Clerk.— William D. Stre- 
vell; term expires, Jan. I, 1887; 
deputy, Thomas J. Dillon. 

County Treasurer. — Albert Gal- 



lup; term expires Jan. i, 1885; deputy, 
Joseph B. Zeiser. 

County Judge. — John C. Nott. 
Office, cor. State and Green streets. 
Term expires Jan. i, 1890. 

Surrogate. — Francis H. Woods. 
Office, City Hall. Term expires Jan. 
I, 1890. Clerk, Michael J. Grogan. 

County Physician. — Dr. U. G. La 
Moure; term expires in May, 1885. 

Coroners. — James McCann; term 
expires Jan. i, 1885; Thomas Nolan, 
Cohoes; term expires Jan. i, 1886; 
Michael H. Murray, Richard Scully; 
terms expire Jan. i, 1887. 

Coroners' Physicians. - Drs. Jas. 
P. Shevlin, Fred. L. Classen, Albany; 
John W, Moore, Geo. H. Billings, 
Cohoes. Terms expire Nov. 20, 1884. 

Keeper of Penitentiary. — John 
McEvven; term expires March, 1885; 
re-elected May 13, 1884, to serve 
another term, which will expire in 
March, 1888. Salary, ^^2,500. 

Justices of SESSiONs.-Peter Walker, 
Albert E. Hinman; terms expire Jan. i, 
1885. 

United States Loan Commission- 
ers. — James W. Bentley, Isaac M. 
Haswell (terms have expired; holding 
over). 

Legislature. — In the Legislature 
Albany is represented as follows : 

Senate. — John Boyd Thacher 
(dem.), of Albany. 

Assembly. — First dist., John Zim- 
merman (rep.") ; second, Hiram Becker 
(rep.), New Salem; third, Edward A. 
Maher (dem.) ; fourth, James A. For- 
syth, Jr. (rep.). West Troy. 

Note. — Police Commissioners, in paragraph 
on, preceding page, for Jan., 1888, should read 
June, 1888. 



LOCAL CHRONOLOGY. 



1609. — The first boat up; manned 
by five of the crew of the " Halfmoon," 
aground forty miles south. (See A 
Bit of History.) 

1 614. — Hendrick Corstiaensen built 
a trading-house and fort on the island 
below the city; fur trade started. 

1 61 7. — Spring freshet damages trad- 
ing-house; traders move up on the 
hill near the Normanskill. 

1623. — Fort Orange erected near the 
steamboat landing by West India Co, 

1626. — Eight families resident in 
Albany, 

1629. — Patroon system established. 

1630. -A brewery was in operation. 

1634, Village called Beaverswyck, 
or Beaver's Fuyck. 

1639. First recorded "fish story": 
two whales said to have come up the 
Hudson; one grounded at mouth of 
the Mohawk; his blubber covered the 
river with grease for three weeks, and 
the carcass could be smelt for two 
(Dutch) miles. (See O'Callaghan's 
History of New Netherland.) 

1642. — First clergyman arrived. (See 
Reformed Churches.) 

1 661. — Schenectady settled. 

1664. — The English change name of 
village to Albany. 

1686. — City incorporated. (See Bi- 
centennial.) 

^^1690. — First massacre at Schenectady 
by French and Indians Feb. 9. 

1745. — Conference of Colonial Com- 
missioners with Indians, Oct. 

1748.— Schenectady again taken and 
a large number put to death. 

1749. — Peter Kalm's visit to Albany. 
Peter was not favorably impressed, 

1 754.— Congress of Colonial Commis- 



sioners, (See Congress of 1754.) 

1760. — First amateur dramatic per- 
formance. (See " Memoirs of an Amer- 
ican Lady.") 

1 769. — First dramatic performance by 
professionals, (See " Players of a 
Century.' ) 

1 77 1. —First printing office and news- 
paper estabUshed, (See Newspapers.) 

1 780.- -Legislature first met here Jan. 
27 to March 14, but not annually till 
1797, 

1 782. — Creditors of the United States 
meet here. 

1783. — Washington visits Albany 
Aug 4. 

1 784.-Death at Nisqueunia of Mother 
Ann Lee, head of the Shakers, Sept, 9, 
Lafayette here on his way from Fort 
Stanwix, Oct, 7, 

1786. — Columbia Co. erected April 
4. Caleb Gardner hanged in City Hall 
for passing counterfeit money, Sept, 15, 
Centennial celebration of the city char- 
ter July 22. 

1788.— Albanv Register started. Cele- 
bration of the ratification of the U, S. 
constitution Aug, 8, 

1789. — Name of Vanderheyden or 
Ashley's ferry changed to Troy Jan, 5. 

1 790, — First Ucensed auctioneer's of- 
fice established. First of many acts 
passed for improvement of the Orer- 
slaugh April 2, Albany co, had a popu- 
lation of 75,180 — more than New York 
(30,032) and Dutchess (42,235), the 
two next largest, put together, 

1 79 1. — Albany county divided, Rens- 
selaer and Saratoga being erected. 
Slight earthquake May 16, 

1792, — Bank of Albany opened July 
16, Mineral spring at Bath discovered. 



(170) 



71 



1793— 1 824 



1793.— Albany Mechanics' Society 
organized. Stages started this year to 
run to Canajoharie and Ballston, and 
Northampton, Mass. A ^250,000 fire 
Nov. 17. (See Fires.) 

1795. — One thousand two hundred 
sleighs passed through this city in three 
days ^\^th emigrants to the Genesee 
Valley. Streets first lighted. 

1796. — Whipping-post abolished. 

1797. — Union college founded Feb. 
25. Albany made the capital Mar. 
10. One hundred and fifty families 
burned out of house and home Aug. 4. 
(See Fires.) 

1798. — Present North Dutch church 
completed. Streets first paved and 
houses numbered. Schenectady incor- 
porated. 

1 801. —Constitutional convention Oct. 
13-27 ; Aaron Burr, pres. 

1803. — State Bank (which see) in- 
corporated. St. Andrew's society or- 
ganized Oct. 10. 

1804. — General Philip Schuyler died 
Nov. 18. 

1806. — Corner-stone old capitol laid 
April 23. Corner-stone Second Dutch 
church (on Beaver st.) laid April 30. 
The famous Pye robbery on Watervliet 
road Dec. 21. 

1807. — Thirty-three persons drowned 
by sinking of a scow at the ferry. Ar- 
rival of the first steamboat Sept. 5. 

1808. — Tigers exhibited for first time 
in Albany. 

1809. — The Gazette began reporting 
the legislative proceedings. Albany 
county reduced to its present limit. 
John Cook's reading-room established. 

1810. — Corner-stone of jail (now Al- 
bany hospital) laid July 30. 

1811. — Pinkster (which see) abol- 
ished April 28. First Albany steamboat 
began running in July ; first steamboat 
race July 27. 

1 81 2. — Legislature prorogued by 
Gov. Tompkins, on the eve of passing 
the charter of the Bank of America; 
capital, 36,000,000, March 27. Lan- 



casterian school incorporated. Steam- 
boat Firefly began running between 
Albany and Troy Sept. 25. 

1813.— Green st. theatre opened Jan. 
18. Albany ^r^wj established Jan. 26. 
Lieut.-Col. Mills killed at Sackett's 
Harbor May 29. Common Council 
offer ^1,000 for discovery of a coal 
mine within five miles of the Hudson. 
Commodore Perry, the hero of Lake 
Erie, presented with a sword; and the 
freedom of the city in a gold box 
Nov. 8. 

1 8 14 — Bridging the Hudson pro- 
posed; Troy opposed it. 

1 81 5. — Town of Colonie made fifth 
ward of Albany. Dutch Church di- 
vided. Albany Academy built. First 
daily paper (the Advertiser) started. 

1 81 6. — Troy made a city April 9. 
Great forest fire, extending to Guilder- 
land and Watervliet, April 28 to May I. 
Frost within thirty miles of the city 
every month in the year. Steamboat 
Car of Neptune run with coal Sept. i. 

1 81 7. — Trowbridge museum lighted 
with gas. Act passed March 31 abol- 
ishing slavery in this state, to take effect 
July 4, 1827. Act authorizing construc- 
tion of the Erie canal passed April 15, 
day of adjournment. Lancaster school 
occupied its new building, now Medical 
College, May 5. Twenty-one houses 
burned on Washington street Nov. 8. 

1 81 8. — Greatest freshet in forty years 
March 3. Remains of General Richard 
Montgomery received from Quebec, 
with imposing ceremonies, July 4. Com- 
mon Council proceedings conducted in 
public Nov. 16 and after. 

1 819. — President's message delivered 
in Washington Tuesday, published in 
Albany Friday — a speed in news gather- 
ing unprecedented. 

1820. — First Savings bank opened 
June 10. 

1 82 1. -Constitutional convention con- 
vened Aug 28; in session 75 days. 

1824. — Albany Co. Medical society 
endorsed vaccination. Lafayette visit- 



1825 — 1842 

ed Albany Sept. 17; was here again 
June 11-13 and July i, 1825. 

1825. — South Pearl st. theatre opened 
May 18. Sale of 122 lots on the new 
pier, amounting to nearly $200,000, 
July 27. Erie canal completed and 
first boat through Oct. 26. The elder 
Kean played Richard Dec. 5. 

1826. — North Pearl st. circus opened 
Feb. 14; it surpassed every other edi- 
fice of the kind in the country. Funeral 
procession in honor of Adams and 
Jefferson July 31; the greatest pageant 
the city had ever witnessed. Present 
alms house completed Sept. 20. 

1827. — John Whipple shot by Jesse 
Strang May 7; Strang tried July 25; 
hanged Aug. 24. (See Hudson 
Ave.) Slaves emancipated July 4. 

1828.— Death of DeWitt Qinton 
Feb. 1 1 . (See Executive Mansions.) 
The steamboat DeWitt Clinton, the 
first entirely built in this city, made her 
first trip Sept. 27. 

1829. — Corner-stone old City Hall 
laid Aug. 31; (burned in 18-0.) 

1830. — Money raised to gild the 
dome of the City Hall. David Wil- 
liams, the surviving captor of Maj. 
Andre attended the theatre and told 
the story of the exploit. Evening 
Journal started March 22, Public 
schools provided for by act of Legisla- 
ture April 17. 

1831. — Soup house opened Jan. 28. 
During the year but two fires and seven 
alarms. Steam ferry-boat run at the 
South ferry. 

1832. — Flood in March damaged 
buildings on the pier. Ordinance passed, 
after much opposition, to prevent hogs 
funning at large in the streets. First 
railroad train over the whole line from 
Schenectady, arrived May 14. 400 
deaths from cholera in July, Aug. and 
Sept. First public school erected. 

1833. — Great freshet May 14-17. 
Vegetation on the island destroyed. 
Stanwix Hall, Female Academy, N. 
Pearl st. Baptist church, and several 



72 



other fine buildings were going up. 
Henry Clay given a reception and pre- 
sented with a cloak of American cloth, 
Nov. 14. Young Men's Association 
organized. 

1834. — Burgesses Corps made their 
first annual parade July 4. " Citizen " 
Edmond Charles Genet died July 14 
at Prospect Hill, Greenbush. Charles 
R. W^ebster, founder of the Gazette, 
died July 14. Funeral ceremonies in 
honor of Lafayette July 25. 

1835. — C^'^y Tract Society organized 
Aug. 4. Union Sunday school cele- 
bration; 4,000 children gathered in 
Capitol park, Sept. 8. Albany Trans- 
cript, first penny paper started, Oct. 12. 

1836. — William Duffy, manager of 
Albany theatre, fatally stabbed by John 
Hamilton, an actor, Feb. 10. Lancas- 
ter school closed (the public school 
system having been introduced) 
March 28. Corner-stone Albany Ex- 
change building laid Nov. i . 

1837. — Eight school-houses erected. 

1839. — Death of Gen. Stephen Van 
Rensselaer Jan. 26. Highest water 
known except in 1857. Nearly the 
whole square between Pearl, Lydius, 
Rose and Hamilton sts. burned 
April 20. Henry Clay here Aug. 17- 
19. Jesse Buel, founder of Albany 
Argns died at Danbury, Ct., Oct. 6. 
Anti-rent war Dec. 2-15. 

1840. — Log cabin erected cor. Dean 
St. and Maiden lane June 27. North 
Market st. changed to Broadway 
Aug. 3. A mayor first elected by the 
people; they had hitherto been ap- 
pointed by the Common Council. 

1 84 1. — Death of Charles E. Dudley 
Jan. 23. Workingmen's meeting to 
protest against prison contract labor 
July 22. Meeting favorable to protec- 
tion of American industry, at the Capi- 
tol, Sept. 2, Thomas W. Olcott, pres. 
First train through from Boston,Dec.i9; 
celebration Dec. 28. 

1842. — Two hundred and fifty brick 
buildings from two to five stories erected. 



^12> 



1842— 1854 



1843. — Fire cor. Green and Beaver 
burned out several tradesmen, one 
woman lost her life. John Quincy 
Adams here Aug. 2. Common Council 
abolished the State st. market Aug. 27; 
it did not stay abolished. 

1844. — The Albany Medical College, 
the Albany penitentiary and Albany 
Hydrant Company incorporated. Col. 
Mills' remains buried in Capitol park 
May 29; (dug up and transferred to 
Rural Cemetery May 30, 1883). Stan- 
wix Hall opened as a hotel June 10. 
Delavan House building. DeWitt Clin- 
ton's remains removed from Swan st. 
cemetery to New York June 21. Wil- 
liam L. Stone, formerly editor of the 
Daily Advertiser, died x\ug. 15. Trains 
of the Mohawk & Hudson R. R. first 
passed down the present route by Tivoli 
creek to new depot, at Maiden lane, 
Sept. 30. Albany Rural Cemetery con- 
secrated Oct. 7. State Normal School 
opened Dec, 18. 

1845. — Wreck of the steamer Swal- 
low near Athens; several lives lost. 
Funeral ceremonies in honor of Gen, 
Jackson June 30. Obadiah R. Van Ben- 
thuysen died Aug. 15. The Hendrick 
Hudson of the People's Line arrived 
Oct 9. Streets lighted with gas Nov. 10, 

1846. — Constitutional convention, af- 
ter sitting 131 days, adjourned Oct. 8. 

1847. — Odeon theatre opened on 
Broadway Feb. i ; destroyed in great 
fire of '48. First term Court of Appeals 
held in this city, closed calendar uf 40 
cases, Sept. 27. 

1848. — Great fires. (See Fires.) 
Corner-stone Catholic cathedral laid 
July 2. A $1,700 sword presented to 
General Wool at the capitol. 

1849. — Sewing machine exhibited 
March 31, The city gave the legisla- 
ture a complimentary dinner April 7, 
Over 200 deaths from cholera in June, 
July and August. Half a million dol- 
lars had been expended in searching for 
coal in this vicinity, without success. 

1850. — Ralph W. Emerson lectured 



and Fanny Kemble read Shakspeare 
the same evening before different aud- 
iences, Jan, 10, Water commissioners 
purchase the Patroon's creek Aug, 23. 
Great floods ; the island inundated 
eight times this season, 

1 85 1. — Reuben A, Dunbar hanged 
Jan, 31 for murder in Westerlo of the 
two Lester children. Twelve senators 
resign in April rather than sanction the 
borrowing of nine million dollars to 
enlarge the canals; the legislature ad- 
journs in consequence, H. J. Hastings 
starts the Knickerbocker June 8. Jenny 
Lind sang in concert at'the Third Pres- 
byterian church July 9. Hudson River 
railroad opened Oct. 8 ; train came 
through in 3.55, or 3.24, running time, 
Albany hospital dedicated Nov, i, 

1852. — First train through on Harlem 
railroad Jan 19. Death of General 
Solomon Van Rensselaer April 23, 
Kossuth's visits May 18-20 and June 
5; he received 32,200 here. High 
water from March 25 to May 22. Henry 
Clay's remains received here July 5, A 
ferryboat capsized and ten persons 
drowned Aug. 22, Gen. Scott's visit' 
Oct. 16-18. Catholic cathedral dedi- 
cated Nov. 21. Schools made free. 

1853. — rRailroad opened to Cohoes 
Apr. 9, Legislature adjourned Apr. 9 to 
avoid action on impeachment of canal 
commissioner Mather; was reconvened 
by (Governor Seymour next day at 10 
A. M. Legislative excursion to Niagara 
Falls by the consolidated railroads 
June 4. Railroad communication with 
Montreal, via Eagle Bridge, established 
June 29. Boiler of the New World 
exploded, killing four and scalding 
others, July i. Boiler of Empire of 
Troy' exploded near Castleton, killing 
5, July 5. In August 28 died of the 
heal in one week. Ground broken for 
Susquehanna railroad Sept, 5, 

1854. — Woman suftrage convention 
Feb, 14, John "Hendrickson, Jr., of 
New Scotland, hanged for the poison- 
ing of his wife. The law against hogs 



I855-I863 

running at large was enforced ; about 
15,000 were captured during the cam- 
paign. Cholera was again epidemic; 
more than 100 deaths. Edwin Cros- 
well retired from the Argus Aug. 18. 
Death, Nov. 7, in New York, of the 
widow of Alexander Hamilton, aged 
97; she was born and married in the 
Schuyler mansion, (See Old Houses.) 
Old state hall, cor. State and Lodge 
streets, taken down in December. 

1855. — First diocesan synod of the 
CathoUc see of Albany Oct. 7. 

1856. — The city had two mayors. Dr. 
J. V. P. Quackenbush and Eli Perry. 
Albany Times established April 21. 
Corner-stone of St. Joseph's church laid 
June I. Geological hall dedicated Aug. 
27, and Dudley observatory the day 
after. 

1857. — The highest flood known, Feb. 
8 and 9; water was a foot deep in 
stores west side of Broadway at 
Maiden lane. Abolition convention ; 
William H. Topp, colored, presided; 
Susan B. Anthony, white, secretary. 
Albany Express established May 4. 
Death, July 4, of Wm. L. Marcy; 27 
military and 7 fire companies, several 
governors and two ex-presidents were 
in the funeral procession. 

i858.-Celebration of the laying of the 
Atlantic cable Sept. i. Fireman's jub- 
ilee Sept. 29; 3,000 firemen from six 
states present. 

1859- — Piccolomini sang in Associa- 
tion Hall Feb. 14. The old St. Peter's 
church razed in Feb. and March; fifst 
stone in new structure laid April 18; 
corner stone June 29. Death of Sher- 
man Crosswell, late editor of Argus, 
March 6. ■ Ladies admitted to member- 
ship in Y. M. A. May 16. State ar- 
mory dedicated May 16. Commerce 
Insurance Co. began business June i. 
Michael O'Brien, of Cohoes, hanged 
for wife murder June i . 

i860. — Time ball dropped at the 
Capitol by electo magnetism from Dud- 
ley Observatory; the only other one 



74 

at that time was at Greenwich, Eng- 
land. St. Joseph's church dedicated 
May 13, said to be the handsomest 
parish church in the world. First steam 
fire-engine brought to this city July 30. 
Prince of Wales' visit Oct. 16. 

1 86 1. — Three skating parks were 
well patronized. The river broke up 
Feb. 13, the ice doing great damage. 
President Lincoln welcomed to the 
city Feb. 18. The 25th regiment left 
for Washington April 22 (returned 
July 28). In May four banks failed, 
the Bank of Albany, Bank of the Capi- 
tol, Bank of the Interior and National 
Bank. The body of Col. Ellsworth in 
state at the Capitol May 27. Boston 
R. R. freight depot burned; loss half 
a million, July 5. March of the 43d 
regiment Sept. 16; march of Ellsworth 
regiment (44th) Oct. 21. 

1862. — Martin Van Buren died in 
Kinderhook July 24. The 113th, an 
Albany county regiment, Lewis O. 
Morris, colonel, departed for Wash- 
ington Aug. 19. Recruiting offices 
open on Sunday, Aug. 31; patriotic 
addresses made in State street by 
several clergymen. Rev. Daniel Waldo, 
of Syracuse, preached in the Second 
Presbyterian church Sept. 14; he was 
100 years and 3 days old. Bells of the 
Catholic Cathedral blessed Nov. 16; 
rung Dec. 7. The loth regiment left 
for the seat of war Dec. 16. 

1863. Post-office re-opened in Ex- 
change building Jan. 24. Thurlow 
Weed retires from Evening Journal 
Jan. 28. Albany Academy centennial 
March 4. Mrs. Blandina Dudley died 
March 6, aged 80. Mrs. Mary Hartung, 
after five years imprisonment for the 
alleged murder of her husband, set at 
liberty. Gen. George B. McClellan 
visited the city May 23. Col. M. K. 
Bryan killed at Port Hudson June 14. 
Labor riot June 15-18. Broadway 
horse cars began running June 22. 
Return ot the Tenth regiment Sept. i. 
John Taylor died Sept. 13; Joel Rath- 



175 



1864 — 1870 



bone same day in Paris, The draft 
Sept. 28 and 29. Work on the first 
bridge over the Hudson begun Oct. 19. 
Ground broken for State st. horse rail- 
road Nov. 2. Explosion of the Isaac 
Newton Dec. 5; several lives lost. 
Academy of music opened Dec. 22. 

1864. Grand opera given for the 
first time in Albany, Lucrezia Bor- 
gia, Jan. 4. Army relief bazaar, held 
in Academy park. The St. John ar- 
rived March 17. Death of Rev. John 
N. Campbell March 27. A steam fire 
engine bought and arrived March 31. 
Colonel Lewis O. Morris killed at Cold 
Harbor June 4. Bishop McCloskey 
(now cardinal) left Albany for New 
York, after 17 years' residence, July 
23. Return of the 44th regiment 
Sept. 28. 

1865. — Negroes admitted to mem- 
bership in the Y. M. A. April 8. The 
body of President Lincoln brought 
here April 26. Return of the 91st regt. 
June 15; of the 43d, July i. Ash 
Grove church dedicated July 6. First 
arrival here of the Dean Richmond, 
July 26. Henry G. Wheaton, the law- 
yer, killed by cars Aug. 25. Return of 
the N. Y. Veteran Voluilteers Sept. i, 
of the 8ist regt. Sept. 4. Death of 
Dr. William Bay Sept 7. Corner stone 
Fourth Presbyterian church laid 
Sept. 12 (dedicated Sept. 18, 1867). 
Steamer St. John exploded her boiler, 
killing 15 passengers, wounding 17, 
Nov. 29. 

1866. -Death, Jan. 29, of Rev. Eli- 
phalet Nott. The upper railroad bridge 
completed Feb. 22. National organiza- 
tion of iron founders and stove manu- 
facturers established here March 14. 
Anti-rent troubles July 18; the Tenth 
regiment called out. Death of Dean 
Richmond Aug. 27. Andrew John- 
son, president of the United States, 
passed the night here Aug. 30. Boiler 
in Rork's lumber mill exploded, killing 
12 persons Sept. 12. North Pearl st. 
cars began running Sept. 17. Wheat 



sold for $3.45 a bushel November i. 

1867. — L. Harris Hiscox shot by Gen, 
George W. Cole at Stanwix hall June 
4. John i\L Trimble died June 7, 
Rufus H. King died July 9. Work 
begun on the new capitol Dec. 9. 
Constitutional convention June 4 to 
Feb. 28, 1868. 

1868.— Amos Dean died Jan. 26. 
Academy of music burned Jan. 29, 
Richard V. DeWitt died Feb. 7. John 
G. White's malt-house burned March 
23. Stephen Van Rensselaer (son of 
the old patroon) died May 25. Fire 
alarm telegraph completed June I. 
Peter Cagger died July 6. Center mar- 
ket on N. Pearl and Howard demolish- 
ed July 7. Very many deaths from the 



heat in July; 



members of St. 



Joseph's church in one week. Corner- 
stone Congregational church laid Sept. 
22. Paving of Broadway with wood 
begun Sept. 30. 

1869. — Susquehanna railroad open 
to Binghamton Jan. 12. First appear- 
ance of the bicvcle ISIarch 10. Death 
of Rev. Dr. Wyckoff March 27. Water 
fifteen feet over the docks April 22. 
Death, June 17, of Dr. Alden March. 
Resignation of Rev. Dr. Sprague Sept. 
28. Division st. theatre opened Oct. 4, 
City building completed in Oct. The 
Cardiff" giant exhibited November 27. 
Trimble operi house opened Dec. 31. 

1870. — Parepa Rosa sang in opera 
in Tweddle hall, Jan. 8. Post-offices 
in Greenbush abolished and mail de- 
livered from Albany office, March I. 
A free soup house, in nine weeks, fur- 
nished 80,000 meals. Portions of 
Bethlehem and Watervliet annexed to 
Albany, April 8. Colored men voted 
irrespective of property qualification. 
Washington park bill passed; work 
begun July 18. John Maloy appointed 
chief of police. May I. Fenian inva- 
sion of Canada, May 24. George W. 
Demers, editor of Evening Journal, 
died May 25. Everybody was singing. 



[871-1877 



176 



" Shoo Fly." A one-minule earth- 
quake, Oct. 20. 

1 87 1. — New police force went on 
duty Jan. I. Thomas A. Halpin, ex- 
press messenger, shot and robbed by 
John I. Filkins, who was sentenced for 
20 years to, but escaped from Clinton 
prison in Sept., 1874, and was never 
heard of. The New Hamburgh dis- 
aster, by which 20 passengers were 
burned to death, Feb. 6. Martin hall 
completed. Weed, Parsons ct Co.'s 
printing house burned; loss, half a 
million, April 7. German peace cele- 
bration, May 29, Corner stone of 
Capitol laid June 24. Eleven thousand 
dollars raised in half an hour for the 
Chicago fire sufiferers. First train over 
the Maiden lane bridge, Dec. 28. 

1872. - Nilsson sang Lucia at Martin 
hall. Lands purchased at North Al- 
bany for People's gas works; work 
begun in April. Death of Erastus 
Corning, x\pril 8. Eight-hour strike 
of railroad employees, June 15 to 24. 
A $100,000 fire in cars and shops at 
West Albany, July 6. The Waterford 
bank robbery; $308,000 stolen Oct. 14. 
Twenty-four buildings burned in Green- 
bush, July 13. Death of Amos Pils- 
bury, July 14. Gas companies cease 
opposition, Aug. i. The Central rail- 
road quadruple tracks laid this sum- 
mer. Union depot opened Oct. 6. 
The Charles H. Phelps defalcation 
from State treasury; sentenced Oct. 
20, 1874, to 15 years in Albany peni- 
tentiary; died there. Loss of the 
Ville du Havre, with Judge Rufus W. 
Peckam, Nov. 22. 

1873. — Constitutional convention as- 
semble in January. Death of Dr. Geo. 
Cooke Jan. 12. Death of William 
Cassidy, editor of the Argus Jan. 23. 
Legislative memorial exercises in honor 
of Wm. H. Seward April 18; orator, 
Charles Francis Adams. Agricultural 
and Arts association purchase land on 
Troy road INIay 9. Eighteen houses 



burned in Canal and Orange streets 
Jnne 20. 

1874. — ISIayor Thacher resigns Jan. 
28. Lowenstein hanged for the murder 
of Weston April 10. Waltz, the Cat- 
skill murderer, kills his keeper the 
night before execution April 30. The 
" Tom Collins " joke. Death of Dr. 
James McNaughton June 12. Freight- 
house, bridge and 20 cars burned at 
East Albany Sept. 7. 

1875. — Go\. Tilden gives reception 
to Wm. CuUen Bryant Feb. 8. Gov. 
Tilden begins his attack upon the canal 
ring in March. Spelling matches all 
the rage in April. Miss Mary Du Bois 
made a member of the Albany Co. 
Medical society June 8. First fast 
mail; New York papers delivered at 8 
A. M. Sept. 16. Opening of New York 
and Canada railroad ; grand excursion 
to Montreal Nov. 16, 17. Sinking of 
the Sunnyside, 11 lives lost, Dec. i. 
Death of Ira Harris Dec. 2; Of Dr. 
Jas. H. Armsby Dec. 3. 

1876. — Midnight parade in honor of 
Centennial year Jan. i. Hard times; 
much destitution; "The Little Grocery 
Around the Corner," a relief depot 
started Jan 3^. High school dedicated 
May 4. Death of Dr. J. V. P. Quacken- 
bush Jan. 8. Death of Ezra P. Prentice 
and PhiUp Phelps July 10. R. M. 
Griffin nominated for governor on 
Greenback ticket Sept 26. St. Peter's 
tower dedicated Sept. 29. Tickets to 
Philadelphia and return, good for 15 
days, sold for $4.50 in Nov. Charles 
Fechter plays at the Leland Nov. 22. 

1877. — Child's hospital opened Feb. 
12 Tabernacle church dedicated Feb. 
14. Morning Press started Feb. 26. 
Failure of Hope bank and embarrass- 
ment of Atlantic Mutual Life Insurance 
Co. May 10. Gov. Robinson, in a mes- 
sage vetoing capitol appropriation, calls 
the building " a great public calamity " 
May 17. Post-office removed from N. 
Pearl st. to Delavan house May 26. 
Old elm corner of State st. and Pearl 



cut down June 15. The railroad 
riots at West Albany July 23-28. The 
police telephone in working order Oct. 
15. Nicky De Freest, the "go slow 
philosopher," killed at the Broadway 
crossing Nov. i. Death of John V. L. 
Pruyn Nov. 2 1 . Baby show at Tweddle 
hall Dec. 21. 

1878.— Death of John O. Cole, Jan. 
4; death of Grenville Tremain, March 
14; death of John Morrissey, May i. 
Telephone started in May. The Bill- 
ings murder in Saratoga county, June 
4. Death of Terence J. Quinn, June 
18. Gale at West Albany, July 21; 
gas works blown down. Death of 
John Tayler Cooper, Aug. 13. Albany 
City Mission building, dedicated Sept. 
3. Death of Lyman Tremain, Nov. 
30. ' 

1879. — New Capitol occupied by the 
Legislature; grand reception in the 
evening; expenses, $5,000, borne by 
200 Albanians, Jan. 7. "Pinafore" 
first sung at the Leland, Fel). 17. 
William J. Hadley, the lawyer, fatally 
stabbed by a client, John C. Hughes, 
March 4. Death of Isaac Edwards, 
March 26 : dealh of Rev. Theodore 
Noethen, April 10. Corner stone of 
Government building laid May 7. 
National encampment, G. A. R., June 
17, 18. Hilare Latrimouille murders 
Catharine Dunsbach, in Watervliet, 
April 5; found guilty June 27; 
hanged Aug. 20. James Goold dies 
Oct. I. Episcopal church congress, 
Oct. 20. Armsby memorial unveiled 
in the Park, Nov. 25. 

1880. -Death of Joel Munsell Jan. 
15. Reception to Charles Stewart Par- 
nell Jan. 27. The Fifteen puzzle agi- 
tates the community. City hall burned 
Feb. 10. Chas. E. Smith leaves Evt-n- 
ing Jownal for Philadelphia Press 
Feb. 18. Death of Thomas W. Olcott 
March 23; of Dr. Chas. A. Robertson 
April I. Fort Orange club-house open- 
ed July I. General Garfield passed 
through Albany Aug. 2. 



[77 1878— 1882 

1881.— Death of Rev. Dwight K. 
Bartlett Jan. 11. Gen. and Mrs. Grant 
the guests of Gov. Cornell Jan. 17. 
Death of S. H. H. Parsons, for many 
years pension agent, Feb. 6. The An- 
neke Jans case finally decided in the 
court of appeals in Feb. The loth and 
25th regiments disbanded. Closing 
services in old Second Reformed 
church March 6. Electric light intro- 
duced March 25; streets first lighted 
with it June 14. City property assessed 
at its full value in April. Death of Eli 
Perry May 12. The revised version of 
the New Testament received May 21. 
Death of Alfred B. Street June 2. The 
Bradley sessions bribery case in the 
legislature June 9. Farewell to Rev. 
Dr. Darling, chosen president of Ham- 
ilton college, June 10. End of the 
Conkling- Piatt senatorial contest June 
22. Strange appearance of the atmos- 
phere Sept. 6, known as the " yellow 
day." City draped in mourning for 
President Garfield Sept. 20. Governor 
Cornell occupies the new executive 
chamber Sept. 29. Corner-stone of 
City hall laid Oct. 13. Death of Chas. 
Van Benthuysen Oct. 19; of Col. 
Hale Kingsley Oct. 22. 

1882.— Deadlock in the legislature, 
which does not organize till Feb. 2. 
Draw of Greenbush bridge worked Jan, 
3; opened to ]5ublic Jan. 24. Senator 
Wagner and others killed at Spuyten 
Duyvel creek Jan. 13. Farewell din- 
ner to W. H. McElroy, who goes from 
the yournal to the Tribune, Jan. 25. 
Dealh of Robert H. Pruyn Feb. 26. 
Prof. Merrill E. Gates elected president 
of Rutgers college March 7. Mason, 
who shot at Guiteau, brought to Albany 
penitentiary March 16. Michael Davitt 
speaks at Music hall June 21. George 
Dawson retires from Evening Journal 
Sept. 2; died Feb. 17, 1883. Peniten- 
tiary used as a jail Nov. 24, and till the 
law was declared unconstitutional in 
Feb. 1883. Thurlow Weed died 
Nov. 22. 



53-84 



178 



1883. — Albani sang in Music hall 
Jan. 15. Tvveddle hall burned Jan. 16. 
Dunlop elevator burned Mar. 3. Salvini 
played the Gladiator March 5. Isaac 
G. Perry made Capitol commissioner 
March 30. Death of Thomas Spencer 
Lloyd April 10. West Shore railroad 
opened to Albany July 9. Death of 
Dr. Jacob S. Mosher Aug. 13. Tele- 
graph strike July 19 to Aug. 17. Death 
of Hugh J. Hastings Sept. 12. Corner- 
stone St. Luke's Methodist church laid 
Sept. 18. Steam tug explodes foot of 
Westerlo st., and kills three men, Sept. 
28. Two-cent letter postage Oct. i. 



West Shore road opened to Syracuse 
Oct. I. Burgesses corps semi-centen- 
nial Oct. 8, 9. New standard time 
adopted Nov. 18. Reunion of 177th 
regiment Nov. 21. Remarkable sun- 
sets in November. Fiftieth anniver- 
sary Y. M. A. Dec. 12. 

1884. — Court of appeals occupied 
new chamber in the capitol Jan 14; 
sat in silken gowns Feb. 25. Death 
of Orlando Meads Yeh. 11. Evetinig 
yoiirnal changes proprietors March 17. 
Corner stone All Saints' Cathedral laid 
June 3. Albany Hand-Book pub- 
lished. 



INDEX. 

Supplemental to the Alphabetical Arrangement of Subjects, which should first be consulted. 



PAGE. 

Adjournments of Legislature 100 

Albany. — Where Albany is the first word 
of a subject, look also for the second ; 
as, Albany Medical college— see Medi- 
cal college, Albany. 

Albany Beef 4 

Annseley & Vint 13 

Army Relief Bazaar 4 

Arsenal — See Armory. 

Banks — See National Commercial and 
State bank. 

Banks & Bro. — See Law books. 

Beverwyck Brewery — See Lager beer. 

Books — See Gray's book store, News 
Co., Albany; Old books, Quinn's. 

Business college 7 

Canal, Opening and closing of 116 

Census — See also Employments, Farms 
and Farm products, Foreign-born, Yan- 
kees. 

Charities — See Benevolent societies. 

Clothing—See Shaw, the tailor; Wilson 
and Gross. 

College of Pharmacy — See Pharmacy. 

Commercial Bank — See National Com- 
mercial bank. 

Death rate— See Vital statistics. 

Depots — See Railroad depots. 

Dickerman, John S. — See Auctions. 

Dispensaries — See Hospuals. 

Erie canal— See Canals. 

Friends — See Quakers. 

Governors — See Executive mansions. 

Hats and Furs — See Cotrell & Leonard. 

History 3 

Horse Cars— See pp. 93, 94. The Clin- 
ton ave. line was accidentally omitted. 
Cars leave Tweddle building 7, 7.45, 8, 
8.30 A.M., and every 15 minutes till 
10.30 and II P.M. 



Insurance— See Albany insurance co., 
Commerce insurance co. 

Lafayette, Gen 156 

Livingston, Philip 157 

]McDonough's Book store — See Old 
books. 

Military Statistics, Bureau of. 52 

News rooms — See Quinn's; News co., 
Albany. 

Officials — See State government. United 
States officers, and Appendix. 

Open Door Mission — See p. 19. (Mrs. 
L I\L Felton is matron in place of Mrs. 
Spensley, resigned. Officers are now 
as follows : Pres., Miss J. Anna Lans- 
ing ; vice-pres., Mrs. Daniel H. Greg- 
ory ; sec, Mrs. John B. Bradley; 
treas.. Miss E. A. Dempsey.) 

Orphan asylums — See Benevolent socie- 
ties. 

Press— See Newspapers. 

Railroads. —The statistics are from re- 
ports to the railroad commissioners for 
the last railroad year. 

Rainfall — See Temperature. 

River, Opening and Closing of 116 

Schuyler Mansion 123 

Standard Time 1 35 

State. — Where State is the first word 
of a subject, look also for the second ; 
as, State Museum, — see Museum, 
State. 

Strasser & Co. — See Cigars. 

Street names— See Names of streets. 

Telegraph invented ' 6 

Valuation — See Tax rate. 

Van Rensselaer mansion — See Old 
Houses. 

Viele, Maurice E. — See Hardware. 

Weather — See Signal Service. 



# TO • INVESTORS. # 

FIRST MORTGAGES ON IMPROVED 
WESTERN FARMS. 



'T^HE basis on which these loans are made is from 25 to 40 per 
-■■ cent, of the value of the security, and this value at a figure 
which, according to the best judgment of experienced appraisers, 
the property would bring under the hammer. Abstract title from Gov- 
ernment down — coupon bonds — buildings covered by insurance in 
favor of mortgagee. These loans are NEGOTIATED AND GUAR- 
ANTEED BY THE WESTERN FARM MORTGAGE COM- 
PANY of Lawrence, Kansas, one of the strongest and most popular 
financial institutions in the West. This Company is composed of 
prominent bankers, merchants and loan men. During an experience 
of over nine years not a single investor has ever been put to a dol- 
lar's expense or an hour's trouble on account of the insufficiency of 
one of these securities. Every coupon and every bond has been 
promptly paid on the day it was due. The interest is 7 per cent., 
semi-annual, principal and interest payable at Third National Bank 
of New York. 

These loans have a great advantage over loans of a similar char- 
acter, for the reason that they are NEGOTIATED and GUARAN- 
TEED by a responsible Company. They will take nothing but 
that which is gilt edge, and which they are willing to become re- 
sponsible for. In case a foreclosure becomes necessary, it is entirely 
at the expense and trouble of the Western Farm Mortgage Company, 
and not their investors. 

Persons desiring to invest in choice securities are requested to 
call and see us, or send for circulars giving scores of references, 
testimonials, etc., from those who have invested in them. We can 
furnish these bonds in different amounts, from $200 to $10,000 and 
upwards. 

M. V. B. BULL & CO., 

FINANCIAL AGENTS, 

Tweddle Building, - Albany, N. Y. 



Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Co.'s 




straight and Curved Needle 

Sewing Machines! 

Endorsed and recommended by all manu- 
facturers for both cloth and leather T/te Best 
in the World. Awarded the only grand 
Prize for Sewing Machines, at Paris, in 1878 
over 80 competitors. If you want a Sewing 
Machine for family use or for any kind of 
manufacturing, we have the most complete 
line in the market, adapted to all grades of 
work. Tailoring Machines, Shoe and Leather 
Stitchmg Machmes, Cylinder and Universal 
Feed Machines, Wax Thread and Button Hole 
Machines, and Book Sewing Machines. 

Please call and examine before purchasing. 



WHEELER & WILSON MFG. CO., 

28 N. Pearl Street, 
Albany, N. Y. 



NEXT DOOR TO THE WINDSOR. 



J. T. JOHNSON, 

* Merchant Tailor,* 

35 & 37 MAIDEN LANE, 



BUSINESS SUITS, $20 to $30. 
Evening or Dress Suits, 

FROM $30 TO $40. 



THE ALBANY ACADEMY. 

[ESTABLISHED IN 1813.1 

FOR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN. 



TRUSTEES : 

HENRY H. MARTIN. The MAYOR of Albany \ ex- ABRAHAM LANSING. 

THOMAS HUN, M.D. The RECORDER " \ officio ERASTUS CORNING. 

JOHN F. RATHBONE. WM. L. LEARNED, LL.D. D. MURRAY, LL.D. 

Rt. Rev. W. C. DOANE, D.D. EDWARD P. WATERBURY. ERNEST J. MILLER. 

PAUL F. COOPER. MAURICE E. VIELE, Treas. JAMES M. CASSETY. 

LEONARD KIP. 



The Primary Department, in charge of ladies of experience, receives 
boys at the younges school age, and combines many features of the Kindergarten 
with an introduction to the use of books. Its work is continued in 

The Preparatory Department, for boys from 8 or lo to 12 or 14 years 
of age, which does most careful work in teaching boys to read, write and speak 
the English Language correctly, and in Arithmetic and Geography, With this 
work is combined a course of Oral Lessons by " the (3bject-]\Iethod," in Botany, 
Zoology, and the useful arts. These lessons cultivate the boy's powers of 
observation and expression, and greatly add to the interest of school-life. 

Instruction in Vocal Music. A Gymnasium specially fitted up for the 
younger pupils. 

THE ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT-Some Features of the School 

1. Attention to health — Gymnastics and Military Drill. 

2. Fullest preparation for the best colleges — more than is feqinred in all 
branches. 

3. A numerous and able Faculty - each teacher a specialist in his department. 

4. The study of Latin and Greek is made an educating process, not a parrot- 
like repetition of rules and exceptions. 

5. The history of Greece, Rome, the United States and England, is studied 
with a view to its lessons for our own times. 

6. Careful and constant practice in composing and letter-writing. 

7. A full year's work in English hterature — studying the best authors in 
their lest works, not merely learning dates. 

8. A careful introduction to the Natural Sciences — Chemistry, Astronomy, 
Botany, Physiology and Zoology. A two years' course in Physics, with a 
lecture-room specially fitted up for experiments in Natural Philosophy. 

9. French and German taught " for use." Constant practice in reading, 
writing and speaking these languages. 

10. Mathematics, to Conic Sections and Analytical Geometry. 

11. Book-keeping, Political Economy and Commercial Law for the future 
business-man. 

12. Five-minute talk with the school on Topics of the Time — "The Ques- 
tion-Box." 

13. The management of the school aims to inculcate Truthfulness, Christian 
Principle, and habits of self-reliant work. 

14. Full apparatus — large collections of photographs, illustrative of Geogra- 
phy, History and Art. 

15. A working laboratory, fully equipped, where each student performs every 
experiment of the course in Chemistry. Address, 

JAMES M. CASSETY, Ph. D., Principal, Academy Building, Albany, N.Y. 



MEDICAL DEPARTMEKT OF UKION UNIVERSITY. 



1838 1884, 



Regular Winter Sessions commence on the second Tuesday of September 
in each year and continue till March. 

The college building, situated on Eagle street, is well appointed in its lec- 
ture rooms, laboratories, dissecting room, library and museum. 

The aim of the faculty is to make the course practical and scientific. This 
is done by combining with didactic lectures, clinical lectures, recitations and 
practical work in the laboratories and dissecting room. Clinical instruction is 
made an especial feature of the course. 

The Albany Hospital, St. Peter's Hospital, Eye and Ear .Relief and the 
County Hospital, together with the Eye and Ear Infirmary and the Dispensaries 
connected with each, are, by the regulations of their governing boards, made 
available for clinical purposes to the students. 

FEES: — Matriculation fee, ^5; Fees for the course, $100; Perpetual 
Lecture Ticket, $150; Graduation fee, $25. 

For information or catalogues, address, 

REGISTRAR OF THE ALBANY MEDICAL COLLEGE, 

4 Lancaster Street, Albany, N. Y. 

The Albany College of Pharmacy. 

DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACY— UNION UNIVERSITY. 



FOURTH ANNUAL SESSION, 1884-85. 

The exercises of the College are held in the Albany Medical College Build- 
ing, on Eagle street. Next course of lectures begin October 6, 1884, and closes 
March 3, 1885. Graded course of instruction, extending over two years, and 
divided into Junior and Senior classes. Requirements for graduation same as 
in other recognized colleges. Every advantage offered the student which 
connection with a large university can give. 

Various prizes are awarded at close of the term to students exhibiting the 
greatest proficiency. For particulars concerning the same, see Catalogue. 

FEES: — Matriculation fee (paid but once), $3.00; Lecture Tickets for the 
course, $30.00; Laboratory course (one term required), ^15.00; Graduation 
fee, 510.00. 

Cost of living in Albany less than in most other cities of its size. Students 
desirous of obtaining employment will be assisted in securing situations, but 
only if they apply in person. For annual catalogue or further information, 
address, SECRETARY OF THE ALBANY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, 

y/ Eagle Street, Albany, N'. V. 



ST. mUYS SCHOOL 

ALBANY, N. Y. 



The Rt. Rev. W. C. Doane, S. T. D., . . Principal and Rector. 
Sister Helen, .... Superior of the Sisterhood. 

Miss E. W. Boyd, Head of the School. 

Miss H. E. Gavit, .... Head of the House. 

With Twenty Teachers and Lecturers. 



The School provides a full course of study from the Kinder- 
garten through a carefully prepared Post-Graduate Course, based 
upon that required for the Oxford (Eng.) degree. ; . .^ :^Zb _,_^ 

The departments of Music, Modern Languages, Drawing and 
Painting, are under the charge of highly accomplished teachers, who 
have gained a wide reputation for thoroughness and skill. 

Special attention is paid to instruction in Prayer Book and 
Church History. 



TERMS 



Charge for the Year, ^350.00 

For new pupils the entrance fee, ..... 25.00 

Music, $100 and 150.00 

German (where French is also studied), . . . 30.00 

Oil, Water Color, and mineral Painting, each, . , . 40.00 



Tuition for Day Pupils. 

In the Harvard Class, for the year, .... ^125.00 

" Senior a u u .... 100.00 

"^ Middle " " "... . 75.00 

" Junior u u a .... 5.00 

"^ Kindergarten Class for the year, . . . 30.00 



pGHT0ftB|IFFL12^C0. 

4 Park Street, Boston, Mass., 



WILL SEND, POST-PAID, TO ANY ADDRESS, ON APPLICATION, 

A PORTRAIT CATALOGUE 

Of all their Publications, and including Portraits of several of their dis- 
tinguished Authors, as follows : 



Thomas Bailey Aldrich. 
Hans Christian Andersen. 

BjORNSTJERNE BjORNSON. 

William Cullen Bryant. 
John Burroughs. 
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James Freeman Clarke. 
J. Fenimore Cooper. 
Charles Dickens. • 
Ralph Waldo Emerson. 
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John Fiske. 
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Oliver Wendell Holmes. 
William D. Hovvells. 
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Sarah Orne Jewett. 

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Alfred Tennyson. 

H. D. Thoreau. 

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